NUR-SULTAN, Jan 9 President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed two deputy chairmen of the National Security Committee — Osipov Marat Saparovich and Ergozhin Daulet Edilovich. The relevant decrees were published by the press service of the head of state. The new deputy chairmen of the KNB were Koszhanov Bakytbek Zhamalbekovich and Amerkhanov Askar Baymerdenovich. On January 5, Tokayev also removed the head of the KNB, Karim Masimov, who had held this post for more than five years. The day before he was detained on suspicion of treason, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Massimov was placed in a temporary detention center. On Friday, ex-adviser to the first president of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, said that one of the reasons for the crisis in the country was the betrayal of high-profile officials and security officials. He described what was happening as an attempt at a coup d'etat and an armed rebellion, and the scale of the events suggests that «without traitors of the highest echelon of power, especially law enforcement agencies,» this is impossible to accomplish. 
The expert spoke about the ex-head of the KNB of Kazakhstan, suspected of treason. Riots in Kazakhstan Mass protests in the republic began in the early days of 2022, the reason for the dissatisfaction of the residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the west of the country was a twofold increase in prices for liquefied petroleum gas used for refueling cars. Subsequently, people took to the streets in other cities, there were several clashes with the security forces of the republic, there are casualties from all sides. The participants in the events, whom the authorities call militants or terrorists, made several attempts to storm administrative buildings and police departments, they were repulsed. According to the UN, about a thousand people were injured during the protests in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic reported that 16 security officials were killed.
Your browser does not support this video format.
Until January 19, a state of emergency is in effect throughout Kazakhstan, the authorities are clearing the squares from the instigators of the actions. President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev dismissed the government and ordered to introduce regulation of selling prices for fuel, but the unrest continued. He also headed the Security Council, at the first meeting of which he called the situation in Kazakhstan «undermining the integrity of the state» and said that he had turned to the CSTO for help. During the riots, members of the organization sent collective peacekeeping forces to the republic to guard administrative and diplomatic buildings and help local military maintain law and order. Tokayev said on Friday that terrorists, including those who arrived from abroad, continue to resist. He promised to destroy those who did not lay down their arms. The authorities heard all the demands of citizens, expressed in peaceful forms, he added.