Kazakh President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev met with Alikhan Smailov, chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber, who reported on the initial results of an audit of the Ministry of Defense. According to the Akorda, the audit has already covered the state defense procurement sector, and based on its findings, the agency has sent 57 recommendations and orders to the government and relevant state bodies to address identified violations, infohub.kz reports.
According to Smailov, the large-scale inspection of the defense agency covers 50 sites, including 48 military units. A team of leading specialists from the state audit system, as well as experts in information technology and communications, has been formed to conduct it.
In particular, auditors will check the logistical support of military units, personnel training, military exercises, the development of military infrastructure, the modernization of weapons and equipment, and the functionality of digital systems.
"The head of state was also presented with a report on the progress of planned audits affecting priority areas of economic development and the social sector," the Akorda said.
Following the meeting, the head of state set specific tasks for conducting the audit of the Ministry of Defense and further developing the entire state audit system.
Recall that personnel changes and mass inspections at the Ministry of Defense began after the tragedy in Mangystau Region, where during exercises 17 servicemen were swept into the Caspian Sea, 14 of whom died. A separate government commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozumbaev is investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.
Later, five Ministry of Defense officers were detained in the case of the sailors' deaths. The criminal case, opened under articles on negligence and violation of navigation rules, is under special supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.
September 25 was declared a day of national mourning.
The week before last, families of the deceased were given telegrams of condolences from the president. On September 27, Toqaev posthumously awarded the deceased sailors with the Orders of "Aibyn" II degree named after Bauyrzhan Momyshuly and "Aibyn" III degree named after Rakhimzhan Koshkarbaev. And three surviving servicemen were awarded the medal "For Courage" by the president.
Earlier, "Kursiv" wrote that Kazakhstan's Defense Minister, Major General Aidos Myrzakhmetov, conducted a surprise inspection of one of the military units of the Akmola garrison. Following the visit, he ordered improvements to the living conditions of servicemen.