Russia’s defence ministry announced on Thursday that their troops were preparing to exit Kazakhstan on Thursday after week-long operations to contain violent protests in the city of Almaty. The withdrawal was previously announced after Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the situation was back in control. 

The Russian ministry further announced that the process of rounding up equipment and handing over state institutions back to authorities was already underway, according to reports from Associated Press. The Russia-led alliance– Collective Security Treaty Organization– sent more than 2,000 troops to the ex-Soviet nation.

Also Read: Explained: What’s behind unrest rocking oil-rich Kazakhstan

Russian General Andrei Serdyukov, who is also the commander of the six-member alliance, said, “The peacekeeping operation is over … the tasks have been fulfilled.”

The violence broke out in early January in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city reportedly due to a sudden spike in the price of car fuel. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said foreign-back individuals were responsible for the unrest, who were later labeled as “terrorists.” 

According to reports from AFP, the statement from the ministry said that “collective peacekeeping forces …are starting to prepare equipment and materiel for loading into the planes of the military transport aviation of the Russian aerospace forces and returning to the points of permanent deployment.” 

As the dust settles after city-wide violence, Almaty’s airport restarted operations on Thursday after being stormed by protesters. 

Russia’s Interfax news agency also reported that the security forces have cleared the square in front of the city hall, which was stormed and set on fire, opening it for pedestrians and car traffic.

Also Read: Constitutional order ‘mainly’ restored, Kazakhstan President says amid unrest

Protesters stormed government buildings and set them ablaze, and dozens of people were killed in clashes with the country’s security forces.

Dozens of individuals — including one 4-year-old girl– were reportedly killed in the clashes. Authorities in Almaty on Thursday reported detaining nearly 2,000 more people over their alleged involvement in the unrest and looting.