BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. Kazakhstan has
identified officials suspected of involvement in the deaths of
servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea in the
Mangystau region on September 24, the country’s Prosecutor
General’s Office said.
The office said investigators have inspected the scene,
questioned more than 30 military personnel, and seized relevant
documentation and video footage. Twelve examinations have also been
ordered.
“Officials suspected of negligent attitude toward their duties,
as well as failure to ensure control and take necessary measures to
ensure the safety of personnel taking into account weather
conditions, and improper organization of rescue operations, which
resulted in the deaths of people, have been identified,” the
Prosecutor General’s Office said.
Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry previously reported that the
bodies of two servicemen who went missing after being swept into
the Caspian Sea during the exercises had been found, completing the
search operation.
The incident occurred due to a sudden and sharp deterioration in
weather conditions while servicemen were carrying out a combat
training mission, resulting in 17 servicemen being swept into the
open sea. Three servicemen were rescued, while 14 died.
Following the incident, the government commission was
established by order of Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister to investigate
the causes of the servicemen’s deaths during the exercises in the
Mangystau region.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September
25 a national day of mourning in connection with the tragedy.
