Kazakhstan’s former navy chief, Kanat Niyazbekov, has been arrested after 14 servicemen died during military exercises in the Caspian Sea in September, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing law enforcement authorities.
Niyazbekov has been detained on charges of negligent performance of duty, state news agency Qazinform reported, citing the country’s Interior Ministry.
His arrest comes days after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Niyazbekov over the incident on 24 September, where 19 military personnel were swept out to sea while disembarking from a patrol boat in rough weather. A number were subsequently rescued.
Kazakh authorities originally arrested five Defence Ministry officials, including the First Deputy Navy Commander Daniyar Khairushev, a day after the incident in September.
Astana’s Interior Ministry said the five senior officials had been detained on suspicion of negligence and violations of navigation rules.
The Khazar Qorgany 2026 naval exercises commenced on 22 September in the Kazakh section of the Caspian Sea. More than 500 military personnel were involved in the drills.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered a comprehensive audit of the Defence Ministry following the incident and declared a national day of mourning.
He asked officials to establish the circumstances of the disaster, as well as explain what had prompted the concept of the exercise.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov ordered the establishment of a government commission to investigate the servicemen’s deaths.
Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov was dismissed from his post by Tokayev on 27 September, a few days after the tragedy.
First Deputy Minister of Defence Kanysh Abubakirov was removed from his position, alongside Chief of General Staff Almaz Dzhumakeyev, on the same day as Niyazbekov on Saturday (3 October).
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