Former Commander-in-Chief of Kazakh Naval Forces arrested after deadly Caspian Sea incident
The former Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of Kazakhstan's Armed Forces has been detained as part of a criminal investigation into the deaths of servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea, Qazinform News Agency learnt from the Interior Ministry.
Military investigators of the Interior Ministry, as part of the criminal investigation into the deaths of servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea, have detained and placed in a temporary detention facility the former Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, a first-rank captain, on charges of negligent performance of duty, the ministry said in a statement.
A court subsequently authorized his arrest. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
It was reported that the incident occurred on September 24 during naval drills on the Caspian Sea coast. 19 servicemen were swept into the sea after weather conditions deteriorated sharply and winds strengthened.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov decreed the establishment of a government commission to investigate the deaths of servicemen during naval drills in Mangistau region.
The Ministry of Defense has released the list of 12 servicemen killed during the naval drills in Mangistau region.
The President expressed his deep condolences to the families of the military personnel who died today during military exercises in Mangistau region.
The Khazar Qorgany 2026 naval exercises began on September 22 in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea. The drills involved over 500 military personnel, naval ships and boats, hydrographic vessels, Coast Guard units from the National Security Committee Border Service, and Air Defense Forces aviation.
September 25 has been declared a day of national mourning in Kazakhstan.
Qazinform reported prosecutors named suspects in a probe into the deaths of the mlitary on the Caspian coast in Mangistau region.
