Kazakhstan arrests five military officers after 14 die in Caspian Sea naval exercise
Kazakhstan has arrested five Defence Ministry officials, including the first deputy navy commander, after 14 servicemen died when rough weather swept them out to sea during a Caspian Sea training exercise.
Kazakhstan has arrested five Defence Ministry officials, including the first deputy navy commander, a day after 14 servicemen died when they were swept out to sea during a naval training exercise in the Caspian Sea, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
The incident happened on Thursday, when personnel were disembarking from a patrol boat off the Caspian Sea coast in rough weather. Three others were rescued after being thrown into the water, according to Reuters.
The five senior officials were detained on suspicion of negligence and violations of navigation rules. Investigators are examining the decisions taken by those arrested, their adherence to safety rules, whether they had taken proper account of the weather conditions, and the technical state of the boat.
Kazakhstan operates a small navy of about 3,000 personnel based on the Caspian Sea, protecting its maritime border and offshore energy infrastructure with patrol and missile boats.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared Friday a nationwide day of mourning.
Sources
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