Kazakhstan: Authorities to Investigate Army Conscription, Medical Exams After Protest by Soldiers’ Mothers

Authorities announced that they will investigate the legality of conscription, the work of medical commissions, and the actions of the Ministry of Defense following a protest at the House of Ministries, Orda.kz reports.

Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said that the Prosecutor General's Office will personally receive the mothers of soldiers who died or were injured during service.

Not a single one of their pleas will be overlooked. We will also evaluate the efforts to prevent deaths and injuries among military personnel, the legality of conscription, and the validity of medical assessments,
Asylov stated. 

The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the soldiers' deaths, the quality of preventive measures within the army, the legality of conscription, and the validity of medical assessments.

The day before, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev instructed Asylov to review the mothers' appeals within 12 days and provide a legal assessment of the deaths of military personnel. The women spent nearly seven hours outside the House of Ministries, demanding investigations and reforms.

Several were detained but later released.

At the protest, families of soldiers killed or seriously injured in the arm demanded reform of the Armed Forces, changes to the conscription system, independent investigations, compensation, and the creation of an assistance fund. 

Neither the Minister of Defense nor representatives of the Presidential Administration were present.

Police described the rally as unauthorized, saying participants had been repeatedly warned. Six women who were detained were later released after a preventive explanation.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov