ALMATY (Reuters) – Authorities in Kazakhstan have detained Karim Massimov, the former head of the national security committee, on suspicion of treason, the security committee said on Saturday.

The National Security Committee stated in a statement that Massimov was fired as protests broke out across Central Asia. Massimov was also detained with other officials. The National Security Committee did not provide any further information or names.

Reuters could not immediately contact Massimov.

Many people were killed, and buildings throughout Kazakhstan were ransacked in the worst acts of violence since the Soviet Union gained independence in thirty years.

Security forces had reclaimed Kazakh’s capital city after several days of violence. Kassym Jomart, the Russian-backed president of Kazakhstan, claimed that he had instructed his troops to use shooting to kill to suppress a nationwide rebellion.

A Russia-led, Russia-led alliance of military personnel was formed at a moment when tensions are high in East-West relations. Russia and America are preparing for negotiations next week regarding the Ukraine crisis.

Massimov is often regarded as an ally to former president Nursultan Nasarbaev. He was twice the prime minister of Kazakhstan and also headed the Presidential Administration under Nazarbayev.

Nazarbayev, aged 81, is the longest-serving leader of an ex Soviet state. He handed the presidency over to Tokayev on January 2019. Many believe that his family retained control over Nur-Sultan. This is the capital built to honor him.