Murder of the border militaries – facts and versions
Astana. June 2. KazTAG - Victor Chanyshev. On May 31 in the morning a KazTAG source notified that at the border post in Almaty oblast bodies of 15 militaries were found. A few hours later border service of CNS of RK has officially announced the discovery of the remains of 13 people at the border post. “At the moment burned remains of 13 people, including the body of a forester, who lived near the post, were found," - the first deputy director of the border service Turganbek Stambekov said at a press briefing in Astana. In turn, the deputy chairman of the CNS Gosman Amrein said that a body of a forester was found in his house, located near the post. According to preliminary reports, the man was killed two days ago.
The nominal size of the burnt border post Arkankergen was 15 people: 1 officer, 3 contract service soldiers and 11 regular soldiers. Border base where the killed militaries served was mobile and set in the summer period in order to prevent the state border crossings by chinese collectors of medicinal herbs.
Later the border service has announced that almost all of the missing weapons of guards were found and on June 1 two more bodies were found. The official investigation originally led to two versions - the attack on the border base and hazing. The bodies were moved to Astana for a genetic examination.
Probable versions
In the evening of May 31 one of the proposed versions was a conflict between soldiers from different regions of Kazakhstan. However, after finding bodies of other soldiers, this version is now questioned. With a high degree of confidence a version of attack of the group of armed men on the border base can be considered. The question is whether the attackers were from Kazakhstan or abroad.
Version of attack provides for two origins of the attackers: people who were familiar to the militaries at the base (the locals, smugglers, herbalists from Kazakhstan) or professional fighters who have chosen the evening time of a border guard (May 28) to catch the armed soldiers by surprise. Military experts believe that the covert destruction of a border base requires a minimum of 6 people, knowledge of the terrain and climate, and in some cases devices for the suppression of a radio signal.
An armed group could be near the border post for two reasons: raid of a special combat unit (“spetznaz”) of a neighboring country or an enhanced escort for an important cargo through the Kazakh-Chinese border (weapons, drugs). According to some reports, the guards moved into the area and settled on May 28. From this we can conclude that the exposed position of the mobile base could be a surprise to those who planned to go in that area.
In any of the options a group of well-armed and experienced fighters operated at the scene. Within a radius of action of special investigative unit (500-700 km) there are bases of the three major states. The nearest part of the border is used to transport illegal goods by criminal structures.
Therefore not only cabinet authorities must investigate the emergency incident but also specialists of a diversion profile – main intelligence directorate of the armed forces and experts from the special combat unit (“spetsnaz”) of the CNS “Arystan”). According to some experts, after the death of an instructor of special forces group "Vympel" of KGB of the USSR Erkebek Abdulaev (instructor on sabotage operations), it is advisable to bring in one of his best students in Kazakhstan Sergey Torubarov.
Information problems
Meanwhile the actions of the border service of CNS in regards to the emergency situation seem strange. Since a forester was killed 2 days before the discovery of the body, it is possible that the border post was attacked at the same time. This suggests a weak communication within the border troops: 2 days without communication, which proves inadequate protection of the border, at least on this site. One can recall the incident with the arrest of Kazakhstanis by Uzbek border guards, when the fact of capture remained a mystery for the border troops and our embassy. Also the landing of a Mathias Rust airplane on the Red Square comes to mind, when all the generals of defense were fired. Comments of some generals about the incident at the border cause nothing but perplexity, to put it mildly.
"We received information that there was an emergency incident. As a result, we now have a suspicion that people died, "- said the deputy chairman of the CNS Gosman Amrin to reporters in Astana after KazTAG spread information about the terrible discovery at the border base.
In turn, director of the border service Nurzhan Myrzaliev told KTC channel that 14 guards could have been burned while sleeping. Also a version of a conflict between the militaries is considered. It is clear that the search for the last, 15th border guard provide an opportunity to delay the investigation. It is tempting for the authorities to write off the murder on the soldier who cannot be found.
Meanwhile, a state of emergency on the Arkankergen base caused a huge public response and public awareness about the investigation of the accident must be timely and objective in order to avoid the rumors, gossip, and discharge. We need truth, not an excuse to hide someone’s incompetence. The investigation should not only find the killers of young men, but also answer the question whether what happened was an accident or are we talking about systemic problems in the security of the state border?