Deputy Defense Minister Addresses Situation Surrounding Soldiers’ Deaths

Deputy Defense Minister Kanysh Abubakirov spoke with journalists in the Majilis about how the ministry is supporting the mothers of soldiers who were killed or injured during service, Orda.kz reports.

He began by offering condolences to the families:

We at the Ministry of Defense have the utmost respect for the mothers of our soldiers. Every death is a profound blow to us, and we take it to heart, because every commander is a soldier's father. We've spoken with every mother. And today, our work continues. At the local level, unit commanders, the unit itself, and the staff are paying attention to those we've lost. This is a profound loss not only for the families, but for us as well.

Abubakirov kept a serious tone and avoided any attempts at levity.

However, he did not offer concrete updates on what actions the ministry is taking in cases involving conscript deaths, whether investigations will be revised, or if any senior officers have faced consequences.

The Defense Ministry remains one of Kazakhstan’s least transparent institutions, often citing secrecy to withhold information.

Still, Abubakirov shared at least one operational detail: psychologists have been working with draft-age youth before they enter service.

We work with psychologists. This year, during the draft, we, together with psychologists, identified more than 700 young men among pre-conscripts who were not ready to serve in the army.

His comments come after another protest last month by mothers of soldiers who died or were severely injured during service. They gathered outside Entrance 16 of the House of Ministries, demanding a meeting with the defense minister and an honest review of cases officially labeled as suicides.

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev responded by ordering the creation of a special working group under the Prosecutor General’s Office, involving the Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, and the National Security Committee.

The situation escalated again on November 20, when Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov, asked about soldier deaths, smiled and said, “What are you talking about? Soldiers?” — a reaction that prompted sharp criticism from Majilis deputies.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya