Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has carried out personnel changes in the country's security bloc. The presidential administration, Akorda, published the corresponding orders, according to infohub.kz.
By presidential decree, Aitkurman Omarbekov was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He was simultaneously relieved of his previous position.
In addition, by presidential decree, Azamat Khasenov was appointed Deputy Chief of the State Security Service of Kazakhstan and Commander of the Special Operations Forces.
Aitkurman Omarbekov was born in 1977 in the Abai region. He graduated from the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with a degree in "Organization of Moral and Psychological Support," as well as the Eurasian Humanities Institute with a degree in law.
From 1997 to 2022, Omarbekov served in the Republican Guard and held various officer and leadership positions in the State Security Service of Kazakhstan.
In February 2022, he was appointed Deputy Chief of the State Security Service and Commander of the Special Operations Forces.
Little is known about Azamat Khasenov. In 2025, he served as Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the State Security Service and Chief of the Operational Directorate Staff. He holds the rank of colonel.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that the president dismissed the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Deputy Minister of Defense, and the Commander of the Naval Forces. Kanysh Abubakirov, Almaz Dzhumakeev, and Kanat Niyazbekov lost their positions.