Kazakh President Tokayev on the 27th signed a decree appointing Aidos
Merzhakhmetov, commander of the armed forces' special operations forces, as
defense minister and removing Kosanov from the post. During a naval exercise on
the Caspian Sea coast in Mangystau region on the 24th, sudden severe weather and
high winds caused several servicemen to fall overboard, resulting in 14 deaths;
at least five senior officers have been detained. Tokayev on the 26th ordered a
special commission to carry out a comprehensive review of the Defense Ministry
over the incident.
