Azerbaijani defence chief offers condolences over deaths of Kazakh servicemen

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, has expressed condolences to his Kazakh counterpart, Lieutenant-General Dauren Kosanov, following an incident in which servicemen were swept into the Caspian Sea during military exercises.

According to Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry, Hasanov wrote in his message: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of nine servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea.

I offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and I share in their grief. I wish a speedy recovery to the soldier injured during the incident. I hope for a positive outcome to the search operation for the seven missing servicemen.”

The incident occurred on September 24 in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau Region during exercises conducted by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. The servicemen were carrying out a training and combat mission along the Caspian Sea coast when a sudden deterioration in weather conditions and strong winds swept them out to sea.

According to preliminary information from Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry, 19 servicemen were swept into the sea. Nine have so far been confirmed dead.

Three servicemen have been rescued, including one who was taken to hospital. Search and rescue operations are continuing for the remaining seven servicemen.

By Tamilla Hasanova