Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his deep condolences to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in connection with the tragic death of eight citizens of Uzbekistan in a car accident on the Shymkent-Samara highway.

The head of Kazakhstan also expressed a request to convey words of sincere sympathy to the families of the victims.

On 3 April, an accident occurred on the Samara-Shymkent highway involving a Volvo truck and a Toyota-Alhpard minivan, as a result of which the driver of the minivan and 7 of his passengers died at the scene. All of them were citizens of Uzbekistan.

A criminal case was opened on this fact.

At the order of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a Government Commission was formed to organize the transportation of the bodies of the dead to Uzbekistan and subsequent funeral procedures. For these purposes, a special board of the Ministry of Defense is used.

The plane took off for Kazakhstan on 4 April at 10:25, according to the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan.