Nur-Sultan: Kazakhstan security forces have held a total of 7,939 people on Monday during last week’s riots, the Interior Ministry said, the worst fight in the post-Soviet history of Central Asian countries.
The government building was briefly arrested or burned in several cities last week when the protest which was initially peaceful about the increase in fuel prices turned into violence.
The authorities have blamed the violence on the “extremist” and the “terrorist” some they say are foreigners.
Karim Masimov, former head of the National Security Committee, was arrested for suspected of betrayal last week, days after President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev refused.
Tokayev has also dismissed his cabinet, issued a shooting order to end the riots and declare an emergency in an oil-rich country of 19 million.
He also asked for a military block led by Russia to send troops, which according to the government had been deployed to maintain strategic objects.
Russian and state media reported 164 people killed during clashes, citing government social media posts.
But the health authority and the police did not confirm the numbers and social media posts were then removed.
“I think there is a kind of conspiracy involving the destructive strength of the domestic country and certain,” Yerlan State Secretary Karin told government television on Monday, without nominating each suspect.