Kazakhstan Fires Defense Minister After 14 Soldiers Die in Naval Exercise
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov following a naval drill disaster that left 14 soldiers dead in the Caspian Sea.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov days after a military disaster claimed the lives of 14 soldiers during a naval exercise in the west of the country, according to the Arabic-language outlet Asharq Al-Awsat.
According to the report, Tokayev signed a presidential decree dismissing Kosanov and appointed Aidos Mirzakhmetov, a former commander of the special operations forces, to replace him.
The disaster occurred last Thursday in the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. During the military exercise, weather conditions deteriorated suddenly, and 17 soldiers were swept out to sea.
The Kazakh Defense Ministry reported that three of the soldiers were rescued alive, while the other 14 were killed. The incident has also prompted an investigation against senior defense officials, with the Interior Ministry announcing the arrest of five defense ministry personnel, including the first deputy commander of the navy.
