Investigators have identified officials suspected of involvement in the deaths of Kazakh military personnel during exercises in the Caspian Sea in the Mangystau region.
“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports this, citing the press service of Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office.
“Officials suspected of negligent conduct, including failing to ensure proper oversight and take the necessary measures to protect personnel in view of the weather conditions, as well as failing to properly organize rescue operations and thereby causing the deaths, have been identified,” the statement said.
The agency also said that the scene had been inspected, more than 30 military personnel had been questioned, documents and video materials had been seized, and 12 examinations had been ordered.
“The investigation will provide a full legal assessment and take procedural measures against all suspects,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
As reported earlier, military personnel were swept away by currents during exercises in the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan after weather conditions sharply deteriorated, leaving 12 people dead. According to updated information, 17 military personnel were swept out to sea while carrying out a training and combat mission amid the sudden deterioration in weather. Three people were rescued, while the search for two others is continuing.
A government commission has been established under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev to determine the causes of the incident. The commission has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of the military personnel and providing assistance to the families of those killed.
The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water, and rapidly changing weather conditions can create dangerous waves and currents, particularly during maritime exercises. The ongoing investigation is expected to establish whether safety procedures and rescue protocols were properly followed.
