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Tokayev dismissed the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy after the tragedy in the Caspian Sea

Tokayev dismissed the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy after the Caspian tragedy

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev continues personnel reshuffles in the Ministry of Defense. This time, three high-ranking military officials lost their posts at once — Chief of the General Staff Kanysh Aubakirov, Deputy Minister of Defense Almaz Dzhumakeyev, and Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces Kanat Niyazbekov.

Aubakirov took charge of the General Staff in January of this year, Dzhumakeyev was appointed deputy minister in the spring, and Niyazbekov had been leading the Navy since August 2025. All of them had worked in their positions for less than a year.

The new dismissals are a continuation of personnel changes in the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan following the tragedy in the Caspian Sea, where 14 servicemen died during military exercises.

The President emphasized that the army leadership bears direct responsibility for the discipline and safety of soldiers.

Last week, Tokayev dismissed the Minister of Defense and ordered a reform of the Armed Forces. The President had also previously emphasized the need to strengthen discipline and safety in the army, holding the leadership of military structures responsible for the lives and health of servicemen.

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