Cadet’s Death in Aqtobe: Wives of Arrested Servicemen Demand Fair Investigation

A picket was held outside the Aqtobe garrison’s military prosecutor’s office. The spouses of an officer and a sergeant from the Air Defense Forces Institute protested, expressing dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation into a cadet’s death, Orda.kz reports.

In July, 18-year-old cadet Bakhyt Asarbayev died during a training parachute jump in Aqtobe. His parachute failed to open, and he died from his injuries. Two suspects are currently under investigation in the case — Officer Nurzhan Aidenov and Sergeant Zamanbek Tolegen.

Both are under arrest.

On September 23, their wives gathered at the prosecutor’s office. The women voiced distrust of the investigation and demanded that all those responsible be held accountable.

My husband was arrested after the tragedy. He dedicated his entire life to military service and always took it seriously. If he’s guilty, there must be evidence. But it’s not just the perpetrators who are to blame. Who assembled the parachute? Who checked its functionality? These questions remain unanswered. I demand an objective investigation. This tragedy must become a reason to restore order and implement reforms so that no more people die due to someone’s negligence, said Sergeant Altynay Tolegenova, his wife.

The investigation is being conducted objectively. They need someone to blame, and they chose my husband. But we believe others should also be held accountable, noted Nargiz Aidenova, the wife of officer Nurzhan Aidenov.

The military prosecutor’s office told our journalist that one of the officers was supervising exercises on the day of the tragedy, while the other was checking parachutes before the jump.

All the circumstances have been thoroughly examined. Parachuting experts were brought in, and expert opinions were obtained, explained Aqtobe Garrison Military Prosecutor Rolan Zhenisbayev.

Prosecutors have already completed their investigation, and the case is now being prepared for trial.

Author: Ardaq Yerubayeva