Arkankergen mass murder

Location Kazakhstan 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
Non-fatal injuries
 0
Perpetrator Vladislav Chelah

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 A border guard, Vladislav Chelakh, initially confessed to the deed, but later rescinded his confession.

Mass murder

Arqanqergen (Kazakh: Арқанкерген) 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]

Initially investigators considered a variety of causes, including a fight among the soldiers, an attack by religious extremists, an assault by smugglers, and an extra-terrestrial attack. 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.[2] Chelah confessed to the crime a few days later. He later rescinded his confession, claiming it had been obtained under pressure.[1]

Vladislav Chelakh, 19 years old at the time of the murders, was eventually tried and convicted. His appeals have been subsequently denied.

Chelakh was eventually 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

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 [6] 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

  1. 1 2 "Print version E-Mail Kazakhstan: 12 Border Guards Found Dead Near Chinese Frontier". Eurasianet.org. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  2. ↑ arqanqergen-mass-murder-was-carried-out-by. Tumblr news.3 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Kazakh border guard sentenced to life for murdering 15". Rapsinews.com. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  4. ↑ Appeal Kazakh military. 21 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Kazakhstan Massacre Survivor Takes the Blame. here 7 June 2012. Accessed 3 September 2015.
  6. ↑ 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.
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