Tokayev condemns military leadership after deadly training incident

September 27, 2026 at 06:07 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev harshly criticized military leadership after a training exercise resulted in the deaths of soldiers. He sent telegrams of condolence to the parents of each deceased serviceman and promised full support to their families. Tokayev blamed the negligence and professional incompetence of officers, including generals, for the tragedy.

Key Facts

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent telegrams of condolence to the parents of every deceased serviceman.
Tokayev stated that the families of the deceased will receive all necessary assistance and will not be left without support.
Tokayev attributed the tragedy primarily to the negligence and professional incompetence of officers, including generals.
The President demanded an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and the planning of the exercise.
Tokayev criticized the Armed Forces leadership for failing to resolve long-standing problems and for the absence of the Navy Commander-in-Chief at the exercise.

Presidential Condemnation

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a harsh assessment of the incident that claimed the lives of soldiers during peacetime. He stated that he had sent telegrams of condolence to the parents of each deceased serviceman. Tokayev assured that the families of the deceased would receive all necessary assistance and would not be left without support. The President placed primary blame on the negligence and professional incompetence of officers, including generals.

Demand for Investigation

Tokayev demanded not only an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy but also into what prompted the planning of such an exercise. He questioned whether the assigned task corresponded to current threats and who developed and approved the exercise. The President asked why the Navy Commander-in-Chief was absent from the exercise and why coordination was neglected. Tokayev stated that irresponsibility, negligence, and window-dressing had become rampant, and that the crisis action plan did not withstand scrutiny.

Systemic Failures

Tokayev said the Armed Forces leadership had failed for years to resolve accumulated problems, undermining the country's defense capability. He noted that lessons had not been learned from past tragic events and that the meaning and purpose of the exercise were unclear. The President concluded that all of this was the result of the military department leadership's indifference.