Kazakh President Dismisses Defense Minister After Drill Deaths
A pre-trial investigation is underway after 14 servicemen died in naval exercises, and five Defense Ministry officials were arrested, authorities said.
- On Sunday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kossanov by presidential decree and appointed Aidos Myrzakhmetov as his replacement. The leadership change follows 14 servicemen drowning during a naval training exercise in the Mangystau Region on Thursday.
- Thursday's incident occurred when military personnel disembarked from a patrol boat along the Caspian Sea coast during rough weather. Fourteen service members died in the exercise, though three other people were rescued from the sea.
- Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry arrested five Defence Ministry officials on Friday, including the first deputy navy commander. The arrests indicate the investigation is targeting command-level responsibility for the maritime training incident.
- The General Prosecutor's Office opened a pre-trial investigation into the deaths, while a presidential commission was established yesterday to conduct a comprehensive review of the Defence Ministry. Both processes run parallel to the ministerial transition.
- Myrzakhmetov, a Major General who graduated from the Military Academy in 2002, previously served as Commander of the Special Operations Forces since January 2024. His appointment signals a strategic shift toward specialized military oversight during the ongoing investigation.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Kazakhstan defense minister dismissed after 14 servicemen die in naval exercise
ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sunday dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov following the deaths of 14 servicemen during a naval exercise in the Caspian Sea, according to a statement published on the presidential website.“Kosanov Dauren Zhumatyevich has been relieved of his post as defense minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the statement said.Kosanov was appointed defense minister in 2025 and was reappointed to the …
نُشر هذا المقال أولاً عبر Cedarnews.net. لمتابعة المزيد من الأخبار والتقارير الحصرية، زورونا على موقعنا. Kazakhstan's President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Dauren Kosanov from his position as Defense Minister on Sunday, the press service of the head of state reported. تم نشر هذا الخبر عبر موقع Cedarnews الإخباري. للاطلاع على مزيد من الأخبار العاجلة والتقارير الحصرية، زوروا موقعنا الرسمي.
Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Dismisses Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov After 14 Servicemen Die in Caspian Sea Naval Exercise | 🌎 LatestLY
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov on Sunday after 14 servicemen died when swept into the Caspian Sea during rough-weather drills in Mangystau. Five officials, including the navy's first deputy commander, were detained. Aidos Myrzakhmetov was appointed as the new defence minister amid a comprehensive ministry review. 🌎 Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Dismisses Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov Af…
After the death of 14 military personnel at exercises.
The President of Kazakhstan replaced the Minister of Defence following the death of 14 soldiers during the exercise.
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