Sailor-gunner Akzhol Temerkhan of military unit 29011, who survived the Caspian Sea tragedy, has officially completed his mandatory military service. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Kazakh blogger Azamat Sarsenbayev announced this on Instagram. He noted that Akzhol Temerkhan became the only conscript from the Mangystau region to survive the tragedy.
Earlier, Akzhol Temerkhan was under doctors' supervision. A touching photo circulated online showing him holding the beret of his deceased friend Azamat Madikhan, promising to personally deliver it to his comrade's family.
On September 27, for courage and selflessness, the President of Kazakhstan awarded Akzhol and two other surviving servicemen (Beket Kuandyk and Nikita Udalov) the state medal "Yerligi Ushin" ("For Courage").
"Today is a special day for Akzhol, he has completed his mandatory service in the Navy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Usually, such special days for soldiers are accompanied by a loud joyful atmosphere, joint commemorative photos and eternal army friendship, but not this time... Akzhol is the only surviving conscript from the Mangystau region, the only one in Mangystau who carries a piece and the burden of memory of lost comrades.
In the near future, the young man, together with his parents, plans to visit the families of all his comrades and express condolences," the blogger wrote.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that Tokayev posthumously awarded servicemen who died during exercises in the Caspian Sea and dismissed Defense Minister Dauran Kosanov. Aidos Myrzakhmetov was appointed in his place.
The emergency occurred on September 24 during combat training tasks of the Naval Forces in the Caspian. Due to a storm and sharp gusts of wind, 17 servicemen were carried into the open sea: 14 people died, three were rescued.
The causes and circumstances of the emergency are being investigated by a special government commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev. A criminal case is being investigated on the fact of the death of soldiers for negligence and violation of navigation rules. The course of the investigation is under the control of the Prosecutor General's Office.
In addition, the head of state created a commission for a comprehensive audit of the state of affairs of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It will study the financial and material-technical support of military units.