Five officials of the Ministry of Defence system have been detained on suspicion of criminal offences related to negligent attitude to service and violation of navigation rules, which entailed grave consequences. They have all been placed in a temporary detention facility (IDF).
WHO WAS DETAINED
According to Polisia.kz, among those detained are the Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces, two commanders of military units, a commander of a marine corps company and a boat commander.
The detainees have the status of suspects. They have been placed in the IDF of the police department of the city of Aktau. The question of their further liability will be decided in accordance with the procedure established by law.
WHAT THE INVESTIGATION IS INVESTIGATING
A pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the military investigation unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs into the deaths of servicemen during the exercises “Khazar Qorġany – 2026”.
The investigation is examining the circumstances of decision-making during the organisation and conduct of the combat training task, compliance with safety requirements, consideration of the hydrometeorological situation, the technical condition of the boat and the actions of officials responsible for the conduct of the exercises and the safety of personnel.
Following the initial investigative measures, criminal cases were previously opened under Part 2 of Article 453 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Negligent attitude to service, which entailed grave consequences”) and Article 465 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Violation of navigation rules”).
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION STATED
A representative of the government commission, Deputy Akim of the Mangystau Region Yerbol Izbergenov, said that the investigation is establishing all the circumstances of what happened.
According to him, every fact will be checked, and the actions of all those involved will receive a legal assessment. He also stated that liability will arise for those persons whose guilt is established by the investigation and court in accordance with the law.
The results of the investigation and official information will also be communicated to the public.
CONTEXT
Let us recall that on 24 September, during exercises of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the Mangystau Region, servicemen were carried out to sea after a sharp deterioration in weather conditions and strengthening of the wind.
On the morning of 25 September, the bodies of two missing servicemen were found. After that, the search and rescue operation in the waters of the Caspian Sea was completed.
By order of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, a commission was created to investigate the causes of the deaths.
Members of the Qazaqstan Khalyq Kenesi intend to allocate 815 million tenge to assist the families of the servicemen who died on the coast of the Caspian Sea.