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Kazakh Special Services Accuse Entrepreneur of Plotting Coup

Riot police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against President Nursultan Nazarbayev's government and the land reform it has proposed, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

Kazakhstan's special services said that they managed to thwart plans of local businessman Tokhtar Tuleshov?€™s to stage a coup d?€™etat, the Interfax news agency reported Monday.

?€?Since last year, Tuleshov has been actively preparing for a violent seizure of power,?€? said spokesman for the National Security Committee, Ruslan Karasev.

?€?Tuleshov?€™s plan was to create tensions within the country by organizing protests and riots,?€? Karasev claimed, adding that the resulting upheaval could have allowed the businessman to create an ?€?alternative government.?€?

The special services have also detained several of Tuleshov?€™s alleged accomplices, including a former deputy prosecutor general and a former member of the constitutional council, Interfax reported.

Weapons and explosives were also found to be in Tuleshov?€™s possession during the course of the investigation, Interfax reported.

Tuleshov is also charged with drug possession and a number of serious crimes including kidnapping and deliberate destruction of property.

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