Shot or Self-Inflicted? Conscript Found Dead in Jetysu Region

An 18-year-old conscript soldier has tragically died in the Jetysu region. While the military unit's command believes it was an accident, his family has doubts, Orda.kz correspondent reports.

The body of Private Dastan Kurmanbek was found in military unit No. 12740 at the Saryozek garrison on January 14. He had just been drafted into the army last fall.

A forensic examination report obtained by Orda.kz indicates that the cause of death was an "open wound to the anterior chest wall."

The document states that it was:

A shot from another and unspecified firearm.

According to the official version of the Ground Forces, the young soldier accidentally shot himself during field training exercises.

As a result of weapon handling rules violations, a serviceman received a fatal gunshot wound. A criminal case has been opened, the reasons and circumstances are being clarified. An investigation is underway. The serviceman had a positive record, made no complaints or statements to the unit command, and fully carried out his official duties,the defense department commented. 

However, the soldier's family questions this version of events, believing he may have been shot, and is calling for a thorough and objective investigation.

On January 16, Dastan Kurmanbek was buried in his hometown in the Maktaaral district of the Turkestan region.

The story of Temirbek Mynzhasarov

This is far from the only incident in the Saryozek garrison.

In the fall of 2024, a soldier, Temirbek Mynzhasarov, sustained a severe injury while preparing for training exercises.

A fellow soldier accidentally shot him while handling military equipment, resulting in a severe through-and-through gunshot wound to his arm and significant blood loss. Instead of immediately taking him to the hospital, the unit's command sent him to a rented apartment. 

When I found my son, he looked exhausted, pale, and had lost a lot of blood. He was left alone in that apartment. It was nothing short of a miracle that he survived. What if he had died?  his father, Bakytbergen Kasymbekov, shared at the time.

Documents later revealed that Temirbek was officially listed as being on leave, which raised suspicions among investigators.

Eventually, he was taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed the severity of his injury. 

In response, his father appealed to the Ministry of Defense, demanding accountability for those who attempted to conceal the incident and denied his son the medical care he desperately needed.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva