A criminal case has been opened over the deaths of servicemen during exercises of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea coast. Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov reported this at a meeting of the government commission, according to infohub.kz.
The criminal case was opened under Part 2 of Article 453 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan — "Negligent attitude to service resulting in grave consequences" — as well as under Article 465 — "Violation of navigation rules".
An interagency operational-investigative group has been created as part of the investigation. A set of investigative and operational-search measures is being carried out, specialists have been engaged, and necessary forensic examinations have been ordered.
Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev instructed that all circumstances of the incident be established in full as soon as possible and that measures be taken against those responsible for the tragedy.
Recall that on September 24, in the Mangystau Region, during exercises of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea coast, servicemen were swept out to sea due to a sharp deterioration in weather conditions and strengthening winds.
Initially, it was reported that 19 servicemen were swept out to sea, and the deaths of 9 servicemen were immediately confirmed. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that a criminal case was opened and is being investigated in the Aktau garrison.
After the deaths of the servicemen, a government commission was created, and Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev was sent to the site of the emergency. President of Kazakhstan Qasym-Jomart Toqaev expressed condolences over the deaths of the servicemen in the Mangystau Region and gave instructions for investigating the tragedy.
Festive events in honor of City Day have been canceled in Aktau. Qasym-Jomart Toqaev declared September 25 a Day of National Mourning in Kazakhstan.
Soon the commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev arrived in the Mangystau Region. Relatives of those killed during the exercises in the Caspian Sea arrived at the morgue in Aktau to identify the bodies.
On the evening of September 24, updated data became known. 17 people were swept out to sea, 12 of them died, three were rescued. The search for the remaining two servicemen continues.
The Ministry of Defense also published lists of the military personnel who died during the exercises in the Caspian Sea. The lists included 11 sailors and one senior lieutenant.
In addition, Kanat Bozumbayev promised that all officials guilty of the tragedy in the Caspian Sea would be punished for "action or inaction". The media also learned that some of the deceased had only days left until demobilization.
The Ministry of Defense expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the exercises in the Mangystau Region. It also became known that members of the Qazaqstan Khalyk Kenesi will send 815 million tenge to the families of the deceased servicemen.