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Kazakhstan detains former navy chief over deaths of 14 servicemen in Caspian exercise
Коротко
Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry said the former commander-in-chief of its navy has been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility over negligence in a case concerning the deaths of 14 servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea. The deaths occurred on 24 September during the “Khazar Korgany – 2026” drills, when 17 servicemen were swept into the sea from the boat “Kaisar”; three were rescued. The detention follows a series of dismissals, including that of Defence Minister Dauran Kosanov, and the earlier detention of five defence ministry officials.
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Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry said the former commander-in-chief of the country's navy has been detained in the criminal case opened over the deaths of servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea. In a statement to Interfax, the ministry's press service said the former navy chief was detained “for negligent attitude to service” and placed in a temporary detention facility, and that he was arrested with a court sanction. The pre-trial investigation continues, the ministry said. [ 2 ]
TASS and RBC also reported the detention of the former navy commander-in-chief in the same case. RBC said the former commander was detained over “negligent attitude to service”. [ 1 , 3 ]
The case follows an incident on 24 September in Mangistau region during the “Khazar Korgany – 2026” exercises in the waters of the Caspian Sea. According to Interfax, 17 servicemen were swept into the sea while personnel were being disembarked from the boat “Kaisar”; three were rescued and 14 died. [ 2 ]
Five officials in the defence ministry system were detained earlier on suspicion of negligent attitude to service and violation of navigation rules that caused grave consequences, Interfax reported. Among them were the navy's chief of staff and first deputy commander-in-chief, two military unit commanders, and the commanders of a marine company and of the boat. [ 2 ]
The deaths were followed by a series of dismissals. Interfax reported that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev relieved Kanysh Abubakirov of the post of first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff, dismissed Almaz Dzhumakeev as deputy defence minister and Kanat Niyazbekov as commander-in-chief of the navy; Defence Minister Dauran Kosanov had been relieved of his post in late September. Interfax placed the dismissals at the end of last week, while RBC reported that Tokayev dismissed navy commander Kanat Niyazbekov on 3 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
The documents do not state the cause of the incident, the date of the former navy chief's detention or court hearing, or whether further detentions are expected. [ 2 , 3 ]
Почему это важно
The case touches Kazakhstan's military command at its highest levels, with the navy chief, the chief of the general staff and the defence minister all removed and a former navy commander now in detention. The continuing criminal investigation means further arrests or charges in the 24 September deaths remain possible, and the official accounts are still limited to the Interior Ministry's statements.
Ключевые факты
- Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry said the former commander-in-chief of the navy was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility for negligent attitude to service. [ 2 ]
- The former navy chief was arrested with a court sanction, and the pre-trial investigation continues, according to the Interior Ministry. [ 2 ]
- The case concerns the deaths of 14 servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea; 17 were swept into the sea from the boat “Kaisar” and three were rescued. [ 2 ]
- The deaths occurred on 24 September in Mangistau region during the “Khazar Korgany – 2026” exercises. [ 2 ]
- Five defence ministry officials were detained earlier on suspicion of negligence and violation of navigation rules causing grave consequences, including the navy chief of staff and two unit commanders, a marine company commander and the boat commander. [ 2 ]
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Defence Minister Dauran Kosanov in late September. [ 2 ]
- Kanysh Abubakirov was relieved as first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff, Almaz Dzhumakeev as deputy defence minister and Kanat Niyazbekov as navy commander. [ 2 , 3 ]
- RBC reported that Tokayev dismissed navy commander Kanat Niyazbekov on 3 October after the deaths of 14 servicemen. [ 3 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Fourteen servicemen died and three were rescued after 17 were swept into the sea during exercises in the Caspian Sea. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The deaths occurred during exercises in the Caspian Sea, in connection with which a criminal case is being investigated. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A former commander-in-chief of Kazakhstan's navy has been detained in the case. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kanat Niyazbekov was dismissed as commander-in-chief of the navy, and an investigation is under way in the deaths. [ 2 , 3 ]
Пока неясно
- Whether the detained former navy commander is Kanat Niyazbekov. RBC names Niyazbekov as the dismissed navy commander and reports the detention of the ex-commander, but no document states explicitly that the detained person is Niyazbekov.
- The exact circumstances that led to the servicemen being swept into the sea. The documents describe the outcome of the 24 September incident but do not give the cause or sequence of events.
- Whether further arrests or charges are expected. Interfax says only that the pre-trial investigation continues.
- The date of the detained former navy chief's arrest or court hearing. No document gives the date of the detention or of the court sanction.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- During the “Khazar Korgany – 2026” exercises in the Caspian Sea in Mangistau region, 17 servicemen are swept into the sea from the boat “Kaisar”; three are rescued and 14 die. [ 2 ]
- Five defence ministry officials, including the navy chief of staff and the boat's commander, are detained on suspicion of negligence and violation of navigation rules. [ 2 ]
- Defence Minister Dauran Kosanov is relieved of his post. [ 2 ]
- According to RBC, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismisses navy commander Kanat Niyazbekov. [ 3 ]
- Kanysh Abubakirov is relieved as first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff, Almaz Dzhumakeev as deputy defence minister and Kanat Niyazbekov as navy commander. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports the detention of the former navy commander-in-chief. [ 1 ]
- Interfax reports, citing the Interior Ministry press service, that the former navy commander-in-chief was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility and arrested with a court sanction. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports the detention of the ex-navy commander over negligence. [ 3 ]