Kazakhstan arrests five in case over deaths of 14 servicemen in Caspian exercise
In short
Kazakhstan has arrested five people in the investigation into the deaths of 14 servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea, with TASS reporting five defendants in the case, while Vedomosti and Kommersant described them as five officials. On 24 September, 17 servicemen were swept into the open sea in the Mangystau region after a sharp deterioration in weather; three were rescued. The presidential press service said a pre-trial investigation into possible criminal negligence by the command staff is continuing, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed senior defence officials and demanded a radical military reform.
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Kazakhstan has arrested five people in the case over the deaths of servicemen during exercises, the Kazakh presidential press service said, as reported by Vedomosti and Kommersant. TASS also reported that five defendants in the case had been arrested in Kazakhstan. None of the reports gave the names or positions of those detained. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On 24 September, 17 servicemen were swept into the open sea in the Mangystau region because of a sharp deterioration in the weather; three were rescued and 14 died, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. Kommersant reported that the exercises “Oborona Kaspiya — 2026” began on 22 September in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea and involved more than 500 servicemen. A pre-trial investigation into possible criminal negligence by the command staff is continuing, the presidential press service said. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant quoted the press service as saying that “officials guilty of the deaths of servicemen must bear the responsibility established by law” and that the issue is under the president's personal control. Vedomosti reported that in the first stage of the check, prosecution bodies opened 13 criminal cases concerning possible embezzlement of state property, abuse of office and hazing. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti reported that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev created a commission to carry out a comprehensive check of the defence ministry on 26 September, and that on 27 September he dismissed Dauran Kosanov as defence minister. It added that on 3 October Tokayev dismissed Kanat Niyazbekov as commander of the republic's naval forces. [ 2 ]
Kommersant reported that Kazakhstan's defence minister was replaced after the incident and that Aidos Myrzakhmetov, previously commander of the special operations forces, took the post. It also reported that on 3 October Kanysh Abubakirov was dismissed as first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff, and Almaz Dzhumakeev as deputy minister. The two outlets named different officials among the 3 October dismissals. [ 3 ]
Tokayev said the servicemen who died were not provided with the necessary equipment, including naval life jackets, and demanded a radical military reform, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. Kommersant reported that he said the episode revealed shortcomings and unprofessionalism in the army, and that the president instructed that budget resources be used more efficiently and transparent criteria for evaluating and selecting personnel be introduced. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The arrests and dismissals put accountability for a deadly training accident at the centre of Kazakhstan's defence ministry, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said needs a radical overhaul. The personnel changes reach the ministry's senior leadership, and Kommersant reported additional instructions on budget spending and on transparent criteria for selecting cadres. The documents do not give a broader assessment of the consequences.
Key facts
- Five people have been arrested in Kazakhstan in the case over the deaths of servicemen during exercises, described as five officials by Vedomosti and Kommersant. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- On 24 September, 17 servicemen were swept into the open sea in the Mangystau region because of a sharp deterioration in weather; three were rescued and 14 died. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A pre-trial investigation into possible criminal negligence by the command staff is continuing, according to the Kazakh presidential press service. [ 2 , 3 ]
- In the first stage of the defence ministry check, prosecution bodies opened 13 criminal cases over possible embezzlement of state property, abuse of office and hazing. [ 2 ]
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev created a commission to check the defence ministry on 26 September and dismissed defence minister Dauran Kosanov on 27 September. [ 2 ]
- Tokayev said the servicemen who died were not provided with the necessary equipment, including naval life jackets, and demanded a radical military reform. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that Aidos Myrzakhmetov, previously commander of the special operations forces, became defence minister, and that two more senior defence officials were dismissed on 3 October. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Five people were arrested in Kazakhstan in the case over the deaths of servicemen during exercises. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 17 servicemen were carried into the open sea on 24 September after a sharp deterioration in weather; three were rescued and 14 died. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Kazakh presidential press service said a pre-trial investigation into possible criminal negligence by the command staff is continuing. [ 2 , 3 ]
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the servicemen who died were not provided with the necessary equipment, including naval life jackets. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Tokayev demanded a radical reform of the military and said the episode revealed shortcomings and unprofessionalism in the army, as reported by Kommersant and Vedomosti. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The names and positions of the five arrested people. None of the documents identifies them.
- Which officials were dismissed on 3 October. Vedomosti names naval forces commander Kanat Niyazbekov, while Kommersant names first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff Kanysh Abubakirov and deputy minister Almaz Dzhumakeev; the accounts do not agree on who was removed that day.
- Whether the 13 criminal cases are connected to the deaths of the servicemen on 24 September. Vedomosti says they concern possible embezzlement, abuse of office and hazing and does not link them to the incident; no other document mentions them.
- The exact place of the incident. The documents refer to the Mangystau region and Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea but name no city.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that five defendants in the case over the deaths of servicemen during exercises have been arrested in Kazakhstan (5 October local time). [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti reports the arrest of five officials, citing the presidential press service, and that 13 criminal cases were opened in the first stage of the defence ministry check. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the arrests, citing the presidential press service, which said officials guilty of the servicemen's deaths must bear the responsibility established by law. [ 3 ]