The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has sent peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan, the organization reports.

The move came almost immediately after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appealed to the CSTO for assistance dealing with what he called a “terrorist threat”.

Tokayev has expanded the state of emergency declared in Almaty to the entire country amid clashes between protesters and law enforcers through January 19.

Peacekeeping forces include subdivisions from the Armed Forces of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Protesters stormed government buildings in Almaty on January 5 and fought running battles with police and the military, with officials saying 748 security officers were wounded and 18 killed, including two had been decapitated.