Discipline, Trust, Reform: What’s Next for Kazakhstan’s Military?

Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaqsylyqov was dismissed just days after a new law on territorial defense passed through the Senate. During his tenure, he faced numerous unresolved issues within the armed forces — many inherited from his predecessors — but failed to turn the situation around.

Zhaqsylyqov, who had served as minister since January 2022, was replaced by Dauren Kosanov, a military professional with extensive seniority and experience. 

Following Zhaqsylyqov's resignation, rumors quickly spread online. Media outlets cited unnamed sources claiming the former minister had been detained.

However, no official confirmation followed. Tengrinews later refuted the rumors, publishing a video showing Zhaqsylyqov calmly dining at home with his family. Well-known journalist and public figure Asset Matayev also publicly stated that the former minister had not been detained.

Adding to the speculation was the vague or silent response from the press services of various law enforcement agencies when asked by journalists to confirm or deny the detention rumors. Was this a quiet attempt to discredit media outlets working with insider information, or perhaps a veiled message to Zhaqsylyqov himself?

The Orda.kz editorial team decided to review the legacy Zhaqsylyqov left behind for his successor, and the scandals involving the Ministry of Defense in recent years. We also spoke with members of the Defense and Security Committee for their views on both the outgoing and incoming ministers.

Mistreatment Within The Ranks

In recent years, Kazakhstan’s military has faced intense scrutiny over a series of tragic deaths among conscripts. One of the most high-profile cases involved Yerbayan Mukhtar, a conscript from National Guard unit No. 5571, who fell into a coma in December 2023 after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury.

The official explanation claimed he slipped and hit his head on a tile floor in the toilet. However, his mother challenged that account, saying her son had a broken nose when he arrived at the unit and visible signs of beating while in the hospital.

He remained in a coma for over five months. The public raised more than 230 million tenge to fund his treatment abroad.

In August 2022, another soldier from the same unit, Almas Shakhimov, died. The National Guard said a metal structure collapsed on him during a storm, but after exhumation, his relatives found stab wounds. The official cause of death remains disputed.

In the fall of 2023, 19-year-old Dosymzhan Salimzhan was fatally shot in the face during training at the Oymasha range in Mangystau. The shooter was an officer on duty. Authorities quickly arrested the suspect, but the incident reignited public debate about systemic safety failures and negligence within the military command.

In April 2022, conscript Alibek Kalbay died at the Guards garrison in the Jambyl region. He was just 19 and had only been in service for 10 days. The Ministry of Defense said he lost consciousness during morning roll call. His family doubted this explanation and demanded an independent investigation.

Suicide cases are another persistent and painful issue. In August 2022, 18-year-old Bekbol Mirash was found hanged at the Sholdala border post of the National Security Committee. The case was initially closed as a suicide. Later, under pressure from the family and activists, it was reopened.

New evidence emerged of hazing and signs of sexual violence.

In the fall of 2024, conscript Zhenis Akhmetzhan was found dead in Priozersk. The Ministry of Defense reported it as a suicide, claiming he shot himself with a machine gun. However, friends said he had been in good spirits, calling family members and planning a surprise for his mother.

His family rejected the suicide version and is demanding a new investigation.

Procurement Scandals

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense has been at the center of several high-profile disputes and corruption scandals involving the domestic defense industry.

One case involves Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE), which filed a lawsuit against the Ministry after it refused to include Arlan vehicles with a previously approved WSE combat module in the state defense procurement plan. According to KPE’s director, the Ministry was effectively blocking sales, even though the equipment met all required standards.

Another scandal involved Askeri Qurylys JSC, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense. In mid-2023, a criminal case was launched against its former president for embezzling more than 590 million tenge through fictitious contracts. The Ministry claimed it had no connection to the former executive’s criminal activities and stated that, since early 2022, it had been actively reforming Askeri Qurylys to repay contractual and supplier debts by the end of 2023.

Public attention was also drawn by an investigation from civil activist Didar Smagulov, who questioned the legality of a rapid government procurement of military uniforms — nearly one million ghillie suits and 43,000 jackets.

He alleged that the procurement could be linked to corrupt practices involving the company Maximus.

Geopolitical Risks and Army PR

Majilis deputy Yermurat Bapi recently pointed out that military funding in Kazakhstan has decreased. According to him, while last year’s defense budget was approximately 0.75% of GDP, this year it has dropped to 0.6%.

He called for an increase in military spending next year and said that parliamentarians have already raised this issue with relevant agencies.

The world is in an unstable state. Full-scale wars are ongoing in six countries, and dozens more are experiencing conflicts. We cannot afford to be careless. National defense must be a priority, Bapi said. 

Commenting on the appointment of the new defense minister, Bapi admitted he wasn’t yet familiar with his work, but expressed confidence in the president’s decision, saying that any general entrusted with such a post must prove worthy of that trust.

When asked about procurement issues and recent scandals, Bapi clarified that the Ministry of Defense is not directly responsible for military purchases. According to him, other bodies — including the Ministry of Industry and Construction — are involved.

He believes a unified structure is needed to manage all military procurements.

Last year, I proposed the creation of a dedicated agency for all military purchases, reporting directly to the president. This would help reduce corruption and streamline the process,Bapi explained. 

Deputy Marat Abenov also commented on the appointment of the new defense minister, highlighting his military background and technical education. He said he would rather focus on the future than dwell on past leadership.

He emphasized that the new minister is highly qualified, particularly in aviation, with real combat experience — not just office work — and a strong background in military development. According to Abenov, these factors played a crucial role in the appointment.

In light of today’s geopolitical tensions, Abenov stressed the need for technical modernization of the armed forces and greater use of advanced technologies. He criticized previous efforts to promote the army through media campaigns.

The best image for the military isn’t videos and PR campaigns. It’s discipline, the absence of hazing, and law. It’s when young men want to serve, take pride in it, and return home alive,he said. 

According to Abenov, no video campaign can make up for the tragic deaths of soldiers. What the army truly needs, he added, is not advertising, but safety and respect for its people.

Kazakhstan’s Army of the Future

In early June, Prosecutor General Berik Asylov announced two reform projects aimed at modernizing Kazakhstan’s armed forces. According to him, the army should be grounded in the principles of dignity, discipline, and justice, with the protection of soldiers’ lives as a top priority at all levels of command.

Order in the army begins with respect for the individual,
Asylov wrote on X, quoting President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev. 

He emphasized that concern for the health and safety of service members should be demonstrated through concrete action, not just words.

As part of the reform, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan will launch two initiatives: “Law and Order in the Army” and “Digital Prevention.” These projects will introduce modern video surveillance systems, and soldiers and commanders on duty or guard assignments will be equipped with body cameras to record events in real time.

The army’s digital service platform, armia.kz, will also be expanded. The site now features an online consultant, and new communication channels will be added to ensure that every conscript knows where to turn in case of a threat or violation.

Special attention will also be given to draft and medical commissions. These bodies will be required to audio- and video-record all evaluations, with files digitized and made remotely accessible to the recruits. The goal is to prevent the enlistment of individuals with health contraindications and make the process as transparent as possible.

A Scandal in Uniform

Last fall, Kazakhstanis were abuzz over a controversial photo of then-Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaqsylyqov posing with his family in military uniform, adorned with numerous awards. The photo sparked widespread criticism, particularly because of the presence of his wife, Elmira Bakkali, who was also shown in uniform.

It soon emerged that Bakkali is not only a serving officer but also a former singer. The Ministry of Defense was forced to clarify that the adults’ medals were real, while the children’s were merely decorative. The backlash intensified when a music video from 2015 resurfaced, showing Bakkali performing a patriotic song surrounded by soldiers.

The Ministry responded again, stating that the video had been shot with permission and without government funding. Bakkali, they added, is a soloist with the National Guard Ensemble.

Before joining the military, she had been a member of a pop group, appeared in music videos and films, and has since achieved the rank of major and received the Order of Qurmet. Her social media accounts are now private, though Facebook indicates she has been married since 2016.

The controversial family portrait, according to the photo studio, was shared publicly with the family’s consent.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov