Arkankergen massacre
| Arkankergen massacre | |
|---|---|
 Vladislav Chelakh, 19 years old, presumed author of the killings. | |
| Location |  Arqanqergen, Kazakhstan |
| Date | May 28, 2012 5:00 a.m. (UTC+06:00) |
| Target | Border guards |
Attack type | Mass shooting, arson |
| Weapons | AK-74 Makarov pistol |
| Deaths | 15 |
| Perpetrator | Vladislav Chelakh |
The Arqanqergen mass murder occurred in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan on the border with China. Arqanqergen is a military post on the border with China, near the village of Usharal. Fifteen people were killed. A border guard, Vladislav Chelakh, initially confessed to the deed, but later retracted his confession.
Description
Killings
Arqanqergen (Template:Lang-kk) is a border post between Kazakhstan and China. At 5 a.m. on 28 May 2012, communication with the border post was lost. When police from a nearby post came to investigate, they discovered the charred quarters and 14 corpses, also burned; a body of a local gamekeeper was found later at a nearby house. The bodies were subsequently identified as fourteen soldiers and one huntsman.[1] The military post had been burned down. The bodies were identified with the help from Berlin's Charité Institute.[2]
Investigation
Initially investigators considered a variety of causes, including a fight among the soldiers, an attack by religious extremists, and an assault by smugglers[citation needed]. The main version, however, was bullying. The sole survivor, Vladislav Chelakh, was the only ethnic Russian stationed at the post and investigators eventually surmised that the 19-year-old soldier had been subjected to hazing.[3]
Vladislav Chelakh was arrested on 5 June 2012, wearing civilian clothes and not far from the area where the killings took place a week earlier. He was found in a mountain hut, carrying a pistol, a computer, and the mobile phones of the dead soldiers.[2] He admitted to the crime the next day.[4] He later retracted his confession, claiming it had been obtained under pressure.[1]
Trial
On 20 December 2012, Chelakh was charged with murder, theft, illegally obtaining and distributing of state secrets; embezzlement or extortion of weapons, ammo, explosive devices; illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transfer or carrying of weapons and explosive devices; intentional destruction or damaging of military equipment; desertion, violation of the housing's inviolability. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison at a penal colony, although his appeals are on-going.[5] He escaped death penalty as the country abolished it 3 years prior to the trial.[4][2]
Chelah's mother maintains that lawyers have refused to defend her son and those who agree charge $2,000 a month, so she is planning an appeal to International Court in Belgium.[6] She described her boy as incapable of such a rampage. Chelakh's grandfather Vladimir publicly stated he thought his grand-son was being scapegoated.[4] On October 2012, Chelakh attempted suicide by hanging himself.[2]
President Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev, declared a day of national mourning, has also ordered a special investigation of the incident. The head of the regional border patrol, Alexey Fomin, was also arrested a month after the event for failing to report the border post communication failure. Furthermore, local newsmen have resigned, claiming there is a large scale cover up.[7]
List of victims
| № | Name | Kazakh name | Year of birth | Rank | Place of birth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kereev Altynbek Kutjanuly | Кереев Алтынбек Құтжанұлы | 1984 | captain | West Kazakhstan Province |
| 2. | Aqyshov Yerlan Yergaliuly | Ақышов Ерлан Ерғалиұлы | 1988 | sergeant | Almaty Province |
| 3. | Aqylbayev Rustem Bagdatuly | Ақылбаев Рүстем Бағдатұлы | 1991 | soldier | Almaty Province |
| 4. | Sersembayev Talgat Amangeldiuly | Сәрсембаев Талғат Амангелдіұлы | 1984 | soldier | Almaty Province |
| 5. | Aganas Qambar Asqaruly | Ағанас Қамбар Асқарұлы | 1991 | soldier | Aktobe Province |
| 6. | Emirgaliyev Bekzat Abatuly | Әмірғалиев Бекзат Абатұлы | 1989 | soldier | Atyrau Province |
| 7. | Balgabayev Daniyar Garifouly | Балғабаев Данияр Ғарифоллаұлы | 1992 | soldier | Atyrau Province |
| 8. | Iliyasov Janat Qatuly | Ілиясов Жанат Қанатұлы | 1992 | soldier | Jambyl Province |
| 9. | Imenov Meyirhan Sagyndyquly | Именов Мейірхан Сағындықұлы | 1992 | soldier | Atyrau Province |
| 10. | Maqsatov Eli Izturganuly | Мақсатов Әли Ізтұрғанұлы | 1992 | soldier | Aktobe Province |
| 11. | Mukashev Nurlanbek Quatbekuly | Мұқашев Нұрланбек Қуатбекұлы | 1991 | soldier | Karagandy Province |
| 12. | Rey Denis Viktorovich [8] | Рей Денис Викторович | 1993 | soldier | Pavlodar Province |
| 13. | Sagyngaliyev Jenis Deuletuly | Сағынғалиев Жеңіс Дәулетұлы | 1990 | soldier | Atyrau Province |
| 14. | Usipaliyev Nurjas Duysembauly | Үсіпәлиев Нұржас Дүйсембайұлы | 1991 | soldier | Jambyl Province |
| 15. | Kim Ruslan Nikolayevich | Ким Руслан Николаевич | 1964 | huntsman | Taldykorgan |
References
- ^ a b "Print version E-Mail Kazakhstan: 12 Border Guards Found Dead Near Chinese Frontier". Eurasianet.org. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
- ^ a b c d Christian Neef, Kazakh Massacre Fuels Rising Mistrust, Spiegel.de, 17 January 2013 (accessed on 24 June 2019)
- ^ arqanqergen-mass-murder-was-carried-out-by[permanent dead link]. Tumblr news.3 September 2015.
- ^ a b c Farangis Najibullah, Yelena Veber, What Do We Know About Kazakh Border Guard No. 15?, Rferl,org, 6 June 2012 (accessed on 26 June 2019)
- ^ "Kazakh border guard sentenced to life for murdering 15". Rapsinews.com. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
- ^ Appeal Kazakh military. 21 June 2013.
- ^ Kazakhstan Massacre Survivor Takes the Blame. here 7 June 2012. Accessed 3 September 2015.
- ^ Forensic experts have not been able to identify his remains. Kazakhstan pays $23,000 to compensate families of 13 massacred border guards.Rapsi, Russian Legal Information System. 3 October 2013. Accessed 3 September 2015.
