Employees of the National Security Committee (NSC) of Kazakhstan neutralized two extremist groups on the territory of Almaty, whose members took part in the riots, NSC press service said, Trend reports citing TASS.
"The NSC of the Republic of Kazakhstan is implementing measures to search for and arrest participants in mass riots and acts of terrorism, as well as to clarify the circumstances of the crimes committed. As a result, two extremist groups were neutralized on the territory of the city of Almaty, whose members took an active part in the riots in the metropolis from January 4 to 8, 2022," the press service said.
According to the information, on January 9, four members of one group were detained on suspicion of committing massive illegal actions, leadership and participation in a banned extremist organization and recruitment into extremist activities. "During searches in their places of residence, firearms, traumatic and flash-noise grenades, cartridges, religious literature and other material evidence were found and seized."
The leader of another group, a foreign national, was actively involved in the riots and had connections with terrorist groups abroad. According to the investigation, he purposefully arrived in Kazakhstan to prepare massive illegal actions and attacks on the authorities and security forces. The search for his accomplices continues.
Other information in the interests of the investigation is not subject to disclosure, operational and investigative measures continue.
"At the same time, information about the theft of weapons, ammunition and other property from the NSC department in Almaty, disseminated in some media and social networks, does not correspond to reality. The department works in an enhanced mode in accordance with the requirements of the red level of the terrorist threat," the press service said.
Kazakhstan's government announced late Jan. 4 that it was restoring some price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, after the rare protests reached Almaty following a sharp rise in the price of the fuel at the start of the year.
Many Kazakhs have converted their cars to run on LPG, which is far cheaper than gasoline as a vehicle fuel in Kazakhstan because of price caps. But the government argued that the low price was unsustainable and lifted the caps on Jan. 1.
After the price of the fuel spiked, big demonstrations erupted on Jan. 2 in certain parts of the country. Public protests are illegal in the country unless their organizers file a notice in advance.
Following the development of the situation, the government declared a state of emergency all over the country. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the government initiated anti-terrorist operations to deal with the ongoing riots.
Also, the divisions of the united peacekeeping contingent of CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) arrived in Kazakhstan to assist in restoring order and help protect strategic objects of the country.