NUR-SULTAN – As of Monday, 7,939 persons were detained by Kazakhstani security forces over unrest last week. This was the most violent episode of violence since the post-Soviet era.

As initially peaceful demonstrations against the rise in fuel prices turned violent, several government buildings were briefly torched or captured by local authorities last week.

Authorities have blamed violence on terrorists and extremists, many of whom were foreigners.

Karim Masimov was the former head of National Security Committee. He was arrested on suspicion of treason just days after President Kassym Jomart Tokayev fired him.

Tokayev also dismissed his cabinet, gave shoot-to-kill instructions to end unrest and declared an oil-rich nation with 19 million a state emergency. Tokayev also requested a Russian-led military alliance to send troops to the country, which is claimed to have been sent to protect strategic items.

Russian state media said that the clashes resulted in the deaths of 164 people, citing an official government post. However, the number was not confirmed by the health or police authorities and then the post on social media was deleted.

Secretary of State Yerlankarin stated that he believed there had been a conspiracy involving certain foreign and domestic destructive forces. However, he did not identify any suspects.