 Witnesses reported that the rioters were given vodka, narcotics and leaflets, indicating that the riots were not spontaneous.They disagreed with the characterization of the riot as related to nationalism or independence; they said it was a protest over Gorbachev's appointing an outsider to head the state.As a response, the CPK Central Committee ordered troops from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, "druzhiniki" (volunteers), cadets, policemen, and the KGB to cordon the square and videotape the participants.