Since the beginning of the year, there have been several cases of servicemen's deaths in the Kazakh army, which prompted the Ministry of Defense to take action.
As part of the new initiatives, control over discipline and educational work has been strengthened, and the requirements for compliance with safety measures when handling weapons and conducting training have been tightened. All military units received commissions for a reassessment of the psychological state of servicemen.
The ministry has also increased the level of responsibility for commanders and sergeants by organizing "comprehensive inspections by military police," as well as implementing round-the-clock monitoring of personnel, including off-duty time.
Additionally, a permanent video connection has been established for soldiers with their families, and unit commanders are required to maintain regular contact with parents through official communication channels.
As a result of the investigations, disciplinary action has been taken against the commander of the Regional Command "East," the chief of staff, and the deputy for educational and ideological work. The commander of the military unit, his deputy, and the battalion commander where the serviceman's death occurred have been relieved of their duties, as reported in the press release from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized its responsibility for the safety of servicemen.
The issue of servicemen's deaths in the Kazakh army raises concerns not only among public activists but also President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Last summer, he urged Defense Minister Dauren Kusanov to intensify efforts to reduce the number of tragic incidents. Nevertheless, the number of such cases remains high. In January of this year, three deaths were reported: on January 23, a conscript soldier died from a gunshot wound while on guard duty in one of the units of the Ust-Kamenogorsk garrison; on January 27, another conscript soldier received a fatal injury while handling a weapon in the Zhambyl region; and on January 6, a serviceman of the National Guard of the Republic of Kazakhstan died in Shymkent due to sudden cardiac arrest.
