ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov days after 14 servicemen died when they were swept out to sea during a Caspian naval training exercise, Reuters reported, citing presidential decrees.
Aidos Myrzakhmetov, previously commander of the special operations forces, was appointed as Kosanov’s replacement. On Friday, the Interior Ministry said authorities had arrested five Defence Ministry officials, including the first deputy navy commander.
The incident occurred Thursday as military personnel were disembarking from a patrol boat on the Caspian coast in rough weather; three other people were rescued. Tokayev’s move underscores political fallout from one of the country’s deadliest recent peacetime military accidents.
Sources: Reuters
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