BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Sayat Issanov as commander of
the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan,
according to the press service of the Kazakh president.
The position was previously held by current Defense Minister
Aidos Myrzakhmetov.
The appointment comes amid a series of personnel changes in
Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry following the deaths of 14 servicemen
during the Khazar Korgany-2026 military exercises in the Mangystau
region on September 24.
On September 27, Tokayev dismissed Defense Minister Dauren
Kosanov and appointed Major General Aidos Myrzakhmetov as his
successor. On October 7, Tokayev signed an order relieving Asker
Beisenov of his position as deputy defense minister and another
order appointing Tatiana Savelyeva as deputy defense minister.
The president also established a commission to conduct a
comprehensive review of the Defense Ministry’s activities,
including its financial and logistical support.
Kazakhstan’s law enforcement agencies have opened 13 criminal
cases over suspected embezzlement of state property, abuse of
office, and other alleged violations at Defense Ministry
organizations and military units, according to the commission’s
preliminary findings.
The commission said the events in the Mangystau region had
exposed systemic problems in the Armed Forces. Its preliminary
findings point to shortcomings in military planning and
insufficient oversight by the previous leadership.
The inspection also identified deficiencies in the preparation
and planning of military exercises, risk assessment, troop
deployment, and measures to ensure servicemen’s safety.
