Authorities in Kazakhstan have detained seven people suspected of planning to organize "riots" during this weekend's presidential election, the security service said on November 17.
"The National Security Committee, with the assistance of prosecutors, suppressed the activities of a criminal group involved in planning and organizing mass riots on November 20 of this year," the security services said in a statement.
The statement said the group was not only organizing large-scale riots but also planning to attack administrative buildings and law enforcement offices using arms and projectiles. Weapons confiscated include Kalashnikov assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns, ammunition, and materials for Molotov cocktails as well as walkie-talkies, it said.
The former Soviet republic on November 20 is set to hold a snap presidential election expected to cement incumbent President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's grip on power months after nationwide protests against fuel prices turned violent and left more than 200 dead.
The unrest occurred in January after a peaceful demonstration in the western region of Manghystau over a fuel price hike tapped into deep-seated resentment of the country's leadership, leading to widespread antigovernment protests.
Thousands of people were detained by officials during and after the protests, which Toqaev said were caused by "20,000 terrorists" from abroad, a claim for which authorities have provided no evidence.
Human rights groups have provided evidence that peaceful demonstrators and people who had nothing to do with the protests were among those killed by law enforcement and military personnel.
Kazakh authorities in recent weeks have detained or sentenced opposition activists on various charges related to activities linked to the upcoming election.