Caspian tragedy: Macron, Aliyev and other leaders express condolences to Kazakhstan

Telegrams from heads of state and leaders of international organizations continue to arrive for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following the deaths of Kazakh servicemen during exercises on the Caspian Sea. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

"The telegrams express firm support and solidarity with the people of Kazakhstan in this difficult hour," the Akorda press service said.

Who sent condolences

Condolences were sent by the presidents of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev; Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko; France, Emmanuel Macron; and Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

Telegrams also arrived from the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam To Lam, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and heads of several international organizations.

Foreign leaders conveyed condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. The President of Kazakhstan thanked them for their support.

Earlier condolences

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan expressed condolences to Kazakhstan's leadership and the families of the deceased. Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a telegram to the head of state and expressed condolences over the tragedy in Mangistau.

Words of support for the Kazakh people were expressed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

Circumstances of the tragedy

On September 24, during exercises on the Caspian Sea, 17 servicemen were carried out into the open sea. Three were rescued, 14 died. The bodies of the last two missing servicemen were found on the morning of September 25, after which the search operation was completed.

By presidential decree, September 25 was declared a day of national mourning.

The day before, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that 30 servicemen had already been questioned and a circle of suspects had been established. Five officers of the Kazakh Defense Ministry have been detained in the case of the sailors' deaths.