Tokayev dismissed the minister of defense
Dauren Kosanov had been leading the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan since the summer of 2025. In September, he was reappointed to this position. The resignation comes a few days after 14 military personnel died during exercises in the Caspian Sea. Five military officials have been arrested as part of this case.
Tokayev dismissed the minister of defense
Following the drowning of 14 military personnel during an exercise in the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan's Minister of Defense Dauren Kosanov was released from his post. The corresponding decree was signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
"By the decree of the Head of State, Dauren Jumayevich Kosanov was released from the post of Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan," says the report published on the president's website.
Kosanov had been serving as the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan since the summer of 2025.
On September 24, during exercises of the country's naval forces in the Mangystau region in western Kazakhstan, the weather sharply deteriorated on the coast of the Caspian Sea and a strong wind rose, as a result of which 17 military personnel were swept away by a strong wave. Only three of them were rescued, and the bodies of 14 people were pulled from the water.
The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan opened a criminal case regarding this situation. Shortly after, five people — the first deputy commander of the naval forces, commanders of two military units, a marine infantry company commander, and a boat commander — were arrested. They are being investigated under articles related to negligent attitude to service that caused grave consequences and violation of ship navigation rules. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan did not rule out that there could be more arrests.