Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued official condolences over the deaths of Kazakh servicemen during naval exercises off the coast of Aktau, infohub.kz reports.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a written statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life that occurred during the Kazakh Navy's military exercises off the coast of Aktau. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Kazakhstan," the statement said.
Earlier, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent condolences to Kazakhstan in response to the tragic deaths of the servicemen in the Caspian Sea.
On September 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, expressing condolences over the tragedy in Mangystau. The President of Kazakhstan, in turn, expressed gratitude to the Russian leader for his sympathy.
The tragedy occurred on September 24 in the Mangystau Region during exercises of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Due to a sharp deterioration in weather conditions and strengthening winds, the servicemen were swept out to sea. Thanks to prompt measures, three servicemen were rescued, and the search for two others continues. To deep regret, 12 servicemen died.
Qasym-Jomart Toqaev declared September 25 a Day of National Mourning in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Defense published lists of those killed during the exercises — they included 11 sailors and one senior lieutenant. The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that a criminal case has been opened into the deaths of the servicemen.
A search operation is currently ongoing in the Caspian Sea.