The former commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces Kanat Niyazbekov has been detained and arrested in connection with the case of the deaths of servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea. He is charged with negligent attitude to service.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to Tengrinews.kz, citing the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), a military investigative unit detained Kanat Niyazbekov as part of the investigation of a criminal case into the deaths of servicemen during exercises. The ministry said that the former commander-in-chief was placed in a temporary detention facility (IVS) and then arrested with the sanction of a court.
The investigation is ongoing.
WHY NIYAZBEKOV CAME UNDER INVESTIGATION
Kanat Niyazbekov headed the Naval Forces from 15 August 2025. Before his appointment to this position, he was first deputy commander-in-chief — chief of the main staff of the Naval Forces.
After the tragedy, on 3 October 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Niyazbekov from his post.
On the same day, the first deputy minister of defence — chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Kanysh Abubakirov and deputy minister of defence Almaz Dzhumakeev were dismissed from their posts.
HOW THE CASE DEVELOPED
The tragedy occurred on 24 September in the Mangystau Region during naval exercises. As a result of the incident, 14 servicemen died. A criminal case was opened into the deaths of the servicemen.
On 25 September, five officials of the Ministry of Defence system were detained on suspicion of criminal offences related to negligent attitude to service and violation of navigation rules that led to grave consequences.
On 27 September, Dauren Kosanov was dismissed from the post of minister of defence. The new minister became Aidos Myrzakhmetov, who had previously commanded the Special Operations Forces.
On 5 October, the Commission for a Comprehensive Review of the State of Affairs in the Ministry of Defence reported the first results of the review to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Following the first stage of the review, 13 criminal cases were opened, and a pre-trial investigation is ongoing into the facts of criminal negligence by the command staff.
