And the stars lie and fall

And the Stars Lie and Fall

The military reform promised by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has taken its first shape: a change of command, criminal cases, and an audit of army expenditures. On the eve, the head of state heard the first findings of the commission established after the death of 14 servicemen in the Caspian Sea. The investigation went far beyond a single tragic exercise. Now Astana has to explain why a system that regularly reported on combat readiness and discipline requires such a deep overhaul.

The report at the meeting with the participation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was presented by the chairperson of the commission, Deputy Chairperson of the Security Council Aida Balayeva. She pointed out errors in the planning of military events and insufficient control by the former leadership. Tokayev demanded that those responsible be held accountable and that the findings of the audit be taken into account in the reform plan, the press service of the head of state reported.

Based on the results of the first stage of the audit, 13 criminal cases have been initiated regarding potential embezzlement, abuse of office, and other violations. The commission also reported hazing and violence against servicemen. Five officials have been arrested during the investigation into the negligence of the commanding staff. The cases concern the work of various units of the Ministry of Defense, not just the tragedy during the exercises. The guilt of the accused is to be established by the court.

Separately, the Supreme Audit Chamber is studying the spending of money at 50 facilities, including 48 military units. They will check supplies, personnel training, exercises, infrastructure, weapons, and digital systems. Following the audit of the state defense order, 57 recommendations and instructions were presented to the government and relevant agencies. The start date of this audit is not specified in the report; it cannot be considered entirely the result of the investigations after the tragedy.

As a reminder, the tragedy occurred on September 24 during the "Khazar Korgani – 2026" exercises in the Mangystau region. During disembarkation from the "Kaisar" boat, 17 servicemen ended up in the sea. Three survived. The initial explanation from the Ministry of Defense came down to a sudden deterioration in the weather. However, the president then stated that the participants were not provided with the necessary equipment, including marine life jackets.

The former Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of Kazakhstan, Vice Admiral Zhandarbek Zhanzakov, in a comment to the Kazakh media, pointed to the decision that should have been made when the weather deteriorated: "The exercise director was simply obliged to postpone or cancel this event, and that's all." Who could have stopped the landing and why they did not do so is one of the main questions of the investigation.

Tokayev dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov. He was replaced by the former commander of the Special Operations Forces, Aidos Myrzakhmetov. The reshuffle continued: on October 5, Aitkurman Omarbekov was appointed Chief of the General Staff.

At the same time, as experts note, service safety has long been on the agenda of presidential meetings. In August 2025, receiving Kosanov's report, Tokayev spoke about preventing deaths and injuries among military personnel. In January 2026, the minister reported on the execution of instructions to establish discipline and order. It turns out that the problem was known, instructions were given, and reports were accepted. What was lacking to change the situation in the units?

Experts, comparing previous reports with the results of current audits, ask the question: what prevented an audit from being conducted earlier, when the government was being formed? Behind the harshness of the phrasing lies the question of the responsibility of those who evaluated the minister's work. The September reappointment requires explanation no less than the subsequent resignation.

What changes the new leadership is preparing was outlined by Defense Minister Aidos Myrzakhmetov at the first working meeting. The military is going to be trained taking into account the experience of modern conflicts: using drones, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and communication tools. In troop command, they promise to reduce unnecessary approvals, reports, and meetings, and to subordinate procurement to the needs of units and combat training. "The army must develop not for the sake of reporting indicators and showy events," the minister said.

A separate task is the safety of soldiers: suppressing hazing, improving service and living conditions. "Every soldier must feel safe," Myrzakhmetov emphasized. The announced priorities touch precisely on those areas where the audit revealed failures: training, supply, and the responsibility of commanders. Now the new leadership has to show how these requirements will work in the units. After the tragedy in the Caspian, the credibility of the reform will depend on whether the army system learns to identify danger and eliminate violations before people die.

Tokayev paid special attention to the need to form a new type of army capable of effectively responding to modern challenges and threats. At the meeting, he emphasized that modernization must be accompanied by the strengthening of military discipline, increasing the safety level of servicemen, and creating proper conditions for military service. Tokayev also noted that the comprehensive audit must be conducted objectively and should not affect the combat readiness of the army. Separately, the president emphasized the need for strict compliance with the constitutional principle of "law and order" in the armed forces. The work of the commission continues, the report says.