Tragedy on the Caspian: investigation nears completion

Tengrinews.kz — The investigation into the deaths of servicemen during military exercises in Mangystau Region is ongoing. The Prosecutor General’s Office provided an update on the investigation, according to the agency’s press service.
According to the supervisory authority, a range of investigative measures has been carried out to fully and objectively establish all the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“To date, more than 300 people have been questioned, and over 30 forensic examinations and studies have been conducted,” the statement said.
Eight officials have been taken into custody with court authorization on suspicion of negligence in the performance of their duties and violations of navigation rules: the Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces, his first deputy and deputy for combat training, the commanders of two military units, a marine battalion and a marine company, as well as the captain of a boat.

“The investigative actions are expected to be completed soon, after which the parties to the criminal proceedings will be given access to the case materials. The investigation remains under the special supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office,” the agency added.

Deaths of servicemen in the Caspian Sea
On September 24, during naval exercises in Mangystau Region, servicemen were swept into the Caspian Sea. They were carrying out training and combat tasks on the coast when the weather suddenly deteriorated and winds intensified. Seventeen people ended up in the water. Three were rescued, while 14 died.
A pre-trial investigation is underway into the deaths of the servicemen. Investigators are examining compliance with safety requirements, whether weather conditions were properly taken into account, and how rescue operations were organized. At the initial stage, five Armed Forces officials were detained, and all were named as suspects.
On October 6, Kazakhstan’s former Navy Commander-in-Chief Kanat Niyazbekov was detained. Shortly before that, he and two deputy defense ministers were dismissed from their posts.
A government commission has been established to determine the causes of the incident. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered a comprehensive inspection of the Ministry of Defense. The President said there were systemic problems in the army and described the deaths of the servicemen as the result of unprofessional conduct by officers, including generals.
On October 21, at a Security Council meeting chaired by Tokayev, a Military Reform Plan was approved. On October 24, the Ministry of Defense announced that its implementation had begun.
Recently, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov spoke about problems identified in the Ministry of Defense following the tragedy in the Caspian Sea.