The former head of Kazakhstan's national security agency has been arrested for treason after being sacked following riots in the country, the agency said on Saturday.
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The National Security Committee (KNB) said its former director, Karim Massimov, was taken into custody on Thursday after the launch of an investigation for high treason.
An investigation launched for high treason
"
On January 6 of this year, the National Security Committee launched a preliminary investigation for high treason
," it said in a statement.
"
On the same day, the former director of the KNB, KK Massimov, suspected of having committed this crime, was arrested and placed in a pre-trial detention center with other people
," the statement continued.
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A close ally of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Karim Kajymkanouli Massimov, former Prime Minister, was dismissed from his post as head of the KNB this week after riots triggered by a rise in gas prices.
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Kazakhstan: the president rejects negotiations and asks the armed forces to "shoot to kill"
Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia, is shaken by a protest that erupted in the provinces on Sunday before spreading to other cities and especially to Almaty, the economic capital, where the demonstrations turned into chaotic riots and murderous.
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The head of state, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on Friday authorized the security forces to "shoot to kill" in order to quell any rebellion and, with the support of Russia, ruled out negotiating with the demonstrators.
A contingent of Russian troops and other countries allied with Moscow arrived Thursday in Kazakhstan to support the power in place by protecting strategic buildings and supporting the police.