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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree dismissing three senior officials within the Defence Ministry, the Kazinform news agency reported.
Kanysh Abubakirov was dismissed as First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces. Almaz Zhumakeyev was dismissed as Deputy Defence Minister, and Kanat Niyazbekov was dismissed as Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces.
Kazakh media had earlier reported a tragedy during the Khazar Qorgany-2026 military exercises in the Caspian Sea. Following a sudden deterioration in weather conditions, servicemen carrying out a combat training task became lost at sea. Search operations established that 14 people had died.
It was also reported that five Defence Ministry officials had been detained in connection with the servicemen’s deaths.
The investigation is examining the organisation of the exercises, compliance with safety rules, whether hydrometeorological conditions were taken into account and the actions of the officials responsible.