Kazakh President Dauran Kusanov dismissed the Defense Minister following the deaths of 14 military personnel during naval exercises in the Caspian Sea.

The office of the Kazakh presidency announced on Sunday, September 28, that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a decree dismissing Dauran Kusanov from the position of Defense Minister.

This decision was made after an incident occurred on the Caspian coast in the Mangystau region. In this incident, 17 military personnel fell into the Caspian Sea, three were rescued, and 14 others lost their lives.

Following this incident, the Kazakh government declared September 25 a day of national mourning and formed a special commission to investigate the dimensions and causes of the accident.

Kazakh authorities have said that necessary support will be provided to the families of the deceased military personnel, and investigations into this incident continue to clarify its dimensions.