2016 shooting of Almaty police officers

2017-04-25T11:48:52Z

Gdeblois19: /* Trial and Sentencing of the Perpetrators */

{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2016 shooting of Almaty police officers
| partof =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| target = Police officers
| coordinates = {{coord|43.2490336|N|76.8716763|E|}}
| date = {{start date|2016|07|18}}
| time = 10:54 a.m. – 11:18 a.m.
| timezone = UTC+6
| type = [[Mass shooting]], [[shootout]], [[carjacking]], [[terrorism|terrorist]] attack,
| fatalities = 11 (including one attacker) <ref name="rt">{{cite web|title=5 killed, 9 injured in Almaty terrorist attack on police station|url=https://www.rt.com/news/351790-shooting-almaty-police-kazakhstan/|publisher=Russia Today|date=July 18, 2016|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref>
| injuries = At least 10 (including the perpetrator)<ref name="rt"/>
| victims = 
| assailant =
| perps = Ruslan Kulikbayev<ref name="Kulikbayev">{{cite web|title=‘Islamist gunman’ kills five in attack on Kazakhstan police station|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/islamist-gunman-kills-five-in-attack-on-kazakhstan-police-station-fn0n7dmws|publisher=The Times|date=July 18, 2016|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref> and six accomplices
| susperps = 
| weapons =
* [[AKS-74U]]<ref name="caravan1">{{cite web|url=http://www.caravan.kz/gazeta/krovavyjj-ponedelnik-almaty-379893/ |title=Кровавый понедельник Алматы - Караван | Караван |publisher=Caravan.kz |date= |accessdate=2016-08-28}}</ref>
* [[MCM pistol]]<ref name="caravan1"/>
| dfens = 
| motive = Suspected [[Salafi jihadism]], hatred of police and law enforcement<ref name=Reuters>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-shooting-idUSKCN0ZY0DY|title=Suspected Islamist militant kills five in Kazakhstan|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref>
| website = 
}}

On July 18, 2016, Ruslan Kulikbayev, a 26-year-old [[Salafi Jihadism|Salafi Jihadist]] and ex-convict, shot and killed 10 people, including 8 police officers and 2 civilians, at a police station in [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]] before being apprehended in a chase and shootout with law enforcement.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|title= Suspected Islamist militants kill at least five in Kazakhstan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/18/two-kazakhstan-police-officers-killed-by-gunmen-say-authorities}}</ref> In addition to Kulikbayev, police arrested five other suspects involved in the attack, while officers shot and killed a sixth suspect. While in custody, Kulikbayev confessed to the attack after being arrested, claiming he perpetrated it due to a hatred of law enforcement.

In November, 2016, Kulikbayev was convicted of terrorism and murder charges stemming from the attack, and was sentenced to death. Kulikbayev's five accomplices were also convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10.5 years.

== Background ==
The attack came less than a month after the [[2016 Aktobe shootings]] where 25 people were killed.

== Prelude to the attack ==
At 3:52 AM local time Ruslan Kulikbayev, armed with a handgun, committed his first murder by shooting an alleged [[Uzbekistan|Uzbek]] [[prostitute]] in a taxicab. He then forced the taxi driver to drive him to Almaty.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/351790-shooting-almaty-police-kazakhstan/</ref><ref name="kp-assailant">{{cite news|last= Voronina|first=Xenia|url=http://www.kazpravda.kz/en/news/incidents/assailant-on-police-and-nsc-departments-in-almaty-named/|title=Assailant on police and NSC departments in Almaty named|work=Kazakhstanskaya Pravda|date=18 July 2016|accessdate=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Амина Джалилова |url=http://365info.kz/2016/07/glavy-mvd-i-knb-rasskazali-prezidentu-o-terakte-v-almaty/ |title=Главы МВД и КНБ рассказали президенту о теракте в Алматы – |publisher=365info.kz |date= |accessdate=2016-08-28}}</ref>

== Attack ==
Kulikbayev originally intended to begin his attack at an Almaty courthouse, but changed his mind upon seeing the large amount of civilians there, and instead forced the taxi driver to bring him to an Almaty Police Station. Near the station, Kulikbayev released the taxi driver unharmed and walked the remaining distance to his target. The taxi driver was later apprehended by authorities after the shootings in Almaty, but police released the driver after they determined he was not an accomplice of Kulikbayev.

At around 11:00 am local time, Kulikbayev, armed with an [[MCM pistol|MCM semi-automatic handgun]], shot and killed a policeman outside of the Almaty Police Station and stole his weapon, an automatic [[AKS-74U]] assault rifle. Kulikbayev then began firing the assault rifle indiscriminately at nearby police officers and civilians. After shooting several people, Kulikbayev carjacked a vehicle, shooting and killing its driver. A female driver recorded the shooting on a dashboard camera, but Kulikbayev did not shoot her. Using the stolen car, Kulikbayev drove to a nearby Kazakh government building housing offices of the [[National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan|NSC]], where he shot and wounded another policeman and an NSC official.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-shooting-idUSKCN0ZY0DY</ref> The wounded NSC official later died from his wounds at the hospital, although the injured police officer survived.<ref name="en.news-original.ru">http://en.news-original.ru/the-shooting-in-almaty-the-chronology-of-events.html</ref> After shooting the two officers, Kulikbayev hijacked a second car, but was spotted and chased by responding police vehicles as he tried to flee. After a high-speed chase, police eventually cornered Kulikbayev, where he engaged the officers in a violent gunfight. During the shootout, several more policemen were wounded, and three officers would later die from their injuries in the hospital. Kulikbayev finally surrendered to authorities after being shot five times.<ref name="en.news-original.ru"/> Kulikbayev was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds. While in the hospital, he was interrogated by investigators and confessed to the Almaty attacks and the previous murder of the Uzbek prostitute.<ref>{{cite news|last=Putz|first= Catherine|url= http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/6-dead-in-police-station-attack-in-almaty/|title=6 Dead in Police Station Attack in Almaty|work=The Diplomat|date=18 July 2016|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref> During his interrogation, Kulikbayev claimed he had only intended to kill police in the shootings, and not civilians.

Due to conflicting reports regarding the amount of casualties and confusion over the number, location, and identities of the suspects, police were "sluggish" in responding to the incident. Almaty was placed on lockdown after the incident and SWAT teams, anti-terrorist units and soldiers patrolled the area for several hours, searching for suspects.

In addition to the police shootings committed by Kulikbayev, at least two other individuals linked to Kulikbayev carried out separate attacks in and around Almaty on the same day. One of the attackers was killed in a shootout with police, while the other was arrested. In the days following the Almaty shootings, Kazakh police arrested and charged four more individuals with suspected connections to the shootings.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gordeyeva|first1=Mariya|last2=Auyezov|first2=Olzhas|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-shooting-idUSKCN0ZY0DY|title=Suspected Islamist militant kills five in Kazakhstan|agency=Reuters|date=18 July 2016|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref>

==Victims==
In total, the attacks in Almaty killed at least 10 people and wounded over a dozen others. The dead included an Uzbek prostitute killed by Kulikbayev the night before the attack,<ref name="kp-assailant"/> four police officers and one civilian killed during the attack, and three injured policemen who later died from their wounds in the hospital.<ref name="rferl.org">http://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-almaty-death-sentence-gunman-kulekbaev/28090318.html</ref>

Four of the police officers killed by Kulikbayev were identified as:

* Captain Bauyrzhan Nurmakhanbetov, 28, who had been serving in the Department of internal Affairs since 22 December 2011.<ref name="forbes-victims">{{cite web|url=http://forbes.kz/process/kollegi_rasskazali_ob_ubityih_v_almatyi_politseyskih|title=Коллеги рассказали об убитых в Алматы полицейских|website=Forbes.kz|date=18 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref>
* Junior Sergeant Maksat Salimbaev, 24, who had been serving in the Department of internal Affairs since 15 November 2013.<ref name="forbes-victims"/>
* [[Starshina]] Ayan Galiev, 42, who had been serving in the Department of internal Affairs since 30 January 1997.<ref name="forbes-victims"/>
* Lieutenant Timur Begasilov, 29, who had been serving in the Department of internal Affairs since January. 2015. Died of wounds in hospital the next day.<ref name="kp-fourth">{{cite news|url=http://www.kazpravda.kz/en/news/society/policeman-wounded-in-almaty-attack--died/|title=Policeman wounded in Almaty attack died|work=Kazakhstanskaya Pravda|date=19 July 2016|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref>

== Perpetrator==
{{Infobox person
| name = Ruslan Alpısbayulı Kulikbayev
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|6|11|}}
| birth_place = [[Baikonur]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| residence = Black Berkut Prison, [[Kostanay]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| other_names = Ruslan Kulekbayev, Ruslan Kulekbaev
| citizenship = [[Kazakhstan]]
| alma_mater =
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization = None known
| known_for = Perpetrator of the 2016 Almaty Police shooting
| religion = [[Islam]]
| denomination = 
| criminal_charge = Murder, attempted murder, terrorism
| criminal_penalty = [[Capital punishment|Death]] by shooting
| criminal_status = Incarcerated, awaiting execution
| parents =
| relatives =
| spouse = Ayaylym Umbetkulova (m. 2010)
| children = 2 (one son and one daughter)
}}

'''Ruslan Alpysbayuly Kulikbayev''' ({{lang-kk|Руслан Алпысбайұлы Күлікбаев}}) was the main perpetrator and mastermind of the attack. Kulikbayev was born on 11 June 1990 in [[Baikonur]] and raised there.<ref name="forbes.kz">{{cite web|url=http://forbes.kz/process/nazarbaev_1/|title=Глава МВД Касымов сообщил подробности теракта в Алматы|website=Forbes.kz|date=18 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="khabar.kz">{{cite web|url=http://khabar.kz/ru/news/kriminal/item/60428-vinovnyj-v-gibeli-lyudej-ruslan-kulekbaev-rodilsya-v-bajkonure|title=Виновный в гибели людей Руслан Кулекбаев родился в Байконуре |website=Khabar.kz|date=19 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref> His parents had divorced when he was still a minor.<ref name="azattyq">{{cite news|url=http://rus.azattyq.org/a/podozrevaemyi-kulekbaev-almaty/27867218.html|title="Замкнутый" и "любитель драк"|publisher=Radio Azattyq|date=19 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref> He attended Yuri Gagarin Comprehensive Secondary School No. 8, leaving after the 9th grade with an incomplete secondary school certificate.<ref name="khabar.kz"/> In school days he was reportedly introverted and prone to violence under the influence of alcohol.<ref name="azattyq"/>

Kulikbayev had been convicted twice previously. The first time, a 3-year suspended imprisonment for [[robbery]] with violence imposed on him by the Enbekshi District Court of [[Shymkent]] on 27 August 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2926658|title=Almaty terrorist attack suspect is a Salaphite with criminal background – National Security Committee|agency=Kazinform|date=18 July 2016|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="newskaz">{{cite web|url=http://newskaz.ru/incidents/20160721/12609310.html|title=ДВД: "алматинский стрелок" причастен к серии вооруженных грабежей|website=Newskaz.ru|date=21 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=22 July 2016}}</ref> It was determined that he ambushed a jewelry saleswoman near her home in July 2010, beating her and taking away her purse with 115,000 [[Kazakhstani tenge|tenge]] (≈US$5,500) and a mobile phone.<ref name="kp-attacks">{{cite news|last=Urankaeva |first=Jania|url=http://www.kazpravda.kz/en/news/society/almaty-assailant-implicated-in-another-4-attacks----almaty-dia/|title=Almaty assailant implicated in another 4 attacks - Almaty DIA|work=Kazakhstanskaya Pravda|date=21 July 2016|accessdate=22 July 2016}}</ref> The second time, the police seized a [[Nagant M1895]] with ammunition and a [[suppressor]] from him, presumedly found by Kulikbayev near a local railway station of [[Taraz]] on 14 February 2012, that led to his 3-year and 6-month prison sentence for illegal acquisition and possession of firearms enhanced by recidivism by the [[Kyzylorda]] Municipal Court on 8 May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kzl.sud.kz/rus/news/v-kyzylordinskom-oblastnom-sude-proshel-brifing-po-delu-ruslana-kulekbaeva|title=В Кызылординском областном суде прошел брифинг по делу Руслана Кулекбаева|publisher=Kyzylorda Regional Court Press Office|date=20 July 2016|language=ru|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref> In prison, 14 penalties were imposed on him for disobedience and violation of orders and instructions provided by detention personnel.<ref name="kp-attacks"/> According to security officials, he maintained close relations with [[Salafist]]s while being incarcerated.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36823422|title=Kazakhstan attack: Four in Almaty killed 'by Islamist'|agency=BBC News|date=18 July 2016|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref>

His marriage to Ayaylym Umbetkulova, a native of Yntymak, [[Ile District, Kazakhstan|Ile District]] began in the early 2010s and produced a son and a daughter.<ref name="azattyq"/><ref name="kp-wife"/> By the words of his wife, he turned from an exemplary family man to a deeply religious person after the release, and wanted her to wear [[hijab]], but she refused.<ref name="kp-wife">{{cite news|url=http://www.kazpravda.kz/en/news/society/wife--of-almaty-assailant-apologized-to-kazakhstanis---media/|title=Wife of Almaty assailant apologized to Kazakhstanis - Media|work=Kazakhstanskaya Pravda|date=21 July 2016|accessdate=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In recent times, he resided in Yntymak, and worked odd jobs for a living, such as selling mobile phones.<ref name="azattyq"/>

=== Response ===
* {{Flag|Chechnya}}: Head of the Chechen Republic, a federal subject of Russia, [[Ramzan Kadyrov]] offered on his [[Instagram]] page condolences to the brotherly people of Kazakhstan and President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and confirmed Chechnya's readiness to closely cooperate with Kazakhstan in fighting terrorism.<ref name="kp-kadyrov">{{cite news|url=http://bnews.kz/en/news/obshchestvo/chechnya_ready_to_give_any_support_to_kazakhstan_in_fight_against_radicals-2016_07_19-1282067|title=Chechnya ready to give any support to Kazakhstan in fight against radicals|agency=BNews.kz|date=19 July 2016|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Iran}}: Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly condemned the attack, and stated "Terror and violence in any form and anywhere are condemned and unacceptable".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/07/19/1134060/iran-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-kazakhstan-s-almaty|title=Iran Condemns Terrorist Attack in Kazakhstan’s Almaty|agency=[[Tasnim News Agency]]|date=19 July 2016|accessdate=26 July 2016}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
During their investigation, the police found that Kulikbayev had killed an Uzbek woman the night before the attack.<ref name="kp-assailant"/>

Kulikbayev had originally planned to kill judges and prosecutors at the Almaly District Court to get revenge on law enforcement structures for his previous imprisonment, as reported by Minister of Internal Affairs [[Kalmukhanbet Kassymov]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2926953|title=Ruslan Kulikbayev planned to take revenge on law-enforcement structures - MIA|agency=Kazinform|date=19 July 2016|accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref>

== Trial and Sentencing of the Perpetrators ==
Kulikbayev, along with five other individuals, were charged by a Kazakh court in Almaty with numerous crimes including murder, attempted murder, and terrorism stemming from the attack. <br/>
In an extremely rare move, the government prosecutors announced that they were seeking the [[capital punishment|death penalty]] for Kulikbayev. Although Kazakhstan officially abolished the death penalty for civil crimes in 2007, it still allows capital punishment for crimes committed under "exceptional circumstances", such as war crimes or, (as Kulikbayev was charged with), acts of terrorism. No executions have been carried out in Kazakhstan since 2003 due to a moratorium, but the penalty can still be imposed on certain criminals.

During the trial proceedings, Kulikbayev was reportedly very belligerent and uncooperative, at one point allegedly flipping over and "tossing" a table at an investigator despite being handcuffed.<ref>https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/obvinyaemyiy-terakte-almatyi-kulekbaev-naruchnikah-kinul-304240/&prev=search</ref>

On November 2, 2016, the Kazakh court found all six defendants guilty of their involvement in the Almaty attack. In addition to murder, and attempted murder, Kulikbayev was convicted of terrorism (a capital offense) and sentenced to death,<ref name="rferl.org"/> becoming the first person in Kazakhstan to receive such a sentence in nearly ten years. Kulikbayev currently awaits execution on death row in Black Berkut Prison in [[Kostanay Region|Kostanay Oblast]]. He is the only person in Kazakhstan currently under a sentence of death. Kulikbayev's lawyer stated that there are no plans to appeal the verdict.<ref>http://www.eurasianet.org/node/81141</ref> Kazakh PM Maulen Ashimbayev stated after the verdict that, although he considered Kulikbayev's sentence "fair", he did not believe that Kulikbayev would ever be executed, as Kazakhstan has instituted a moratorium on the death penalty since 2003.

The attorneys for the other five defendants tried to argue that their clients had little or no involvement in the attacks, but the argument was rejected and the five defendants were convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10.5 years.

==See also==
* [[2016 Aktobe shootings]]
* [[2011 Aktobe bombing]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almaty police officers}}
[[Category:2016 in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Almaty]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2016]]
[[Category:July 2016 crimes]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2016]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Kazakhstan in 2016]]
[[Category:Police officers killed in the line of duty]]

Ruslan Kulikbayev

2017-03-28T11:37:30Z

Gdeblois19:

#REDIRECT [[2016 shooting of Almaty police officers]]

[[Category:Terrorism in Kazakhstan]]

Altynbek Sarsenbayuly

2017-02-20T02:19:28Z

Gdeblois19: /* Murder and investigation */

'''Altynbek Sarsenbaev''' ({{lang-kk|'''Алтынбек Сәрсенбаев'''}}; or '''Алтынбек Сәрсенбайұлы'''; 1962 - February 13, 2006) served in the [[Government of Kazakhstan]] before becoming a political opposition leader. At the time of his death, he served as co-chairman of the opposition ''Naghyz Ak Zhol'' ([[True Bright Path]]) party.

In 2003, after a long career in senior Kazakh government positions, including Mayor of [[Almaty]], Information Minister and Kazakhstani ambassador to [[Russia]], Sarsenbayuly joined the opposition ranks in protest against what he regarded as the administration's authoritarian policies.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

Soon after his decision to contest the December 2005 Kazakhstan presidential elections, Sarsenbayuly faced government intimidation tactics, including a physical assault by unidentified individuals during a presidential campaign meeting with voters and the alleged beating of his two nephews in November 2005.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

==Murder and investigation==
On 13 February 2006 the bodies of Sarsenbaev, his bodyguard and his driver were found dead on a road near the city of Almaty, reportedly lying face-down, hands tied on their back, and shot in the head at point blank range.

On 22 February 2006 five officers of Kazakhstan's KNB security service, and specifically the elite Arystan combat division, were arrested for involvement in Sarsenbaev's murder. According to Interior Minister [[Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov]] the five men were paid $25,000 for committing the murder. [[Nartay Dutbayev]], the chief national security officer in [[Government of Kazakhstan|the government]], resigned on 23 February, the day after his subordinates were arrested.<ref name=DUTBAYE>[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B16FB355A0C708EDDAB0894DE404482&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fKazakhstan Top Kazakh Aide Quits in Crisis After Killing of Opposition Figure] New York Times</ref>

Police arrested Rustam Ibragimov, a former law enforcement officer, as a suspect for organizing the operation. Four more men were later arrested in connection with the assassination.

On August 31, 2006, all ten of the accused assassins were convicted of the murder of Sarsenbaev. Rustam Ibragimov was sentenced to death, while his nine accomplices received prison terms ranging from 3-20 years.<ref>http://www.eurasianet.org/node/81141</ref> Ibragimov's sentence was commuted to life in prison in 2014.<ref>http://prokuror.gov.kz/eng/news/press-releases/official-statement-general-prosecutors-office-republic-kazakhstan</ref>

The completion of the investigation in December 2013 was marked by a press conference with the Deputy Procurator General of Kazakhstan and the ranking American diplomat in Kazakhstan, Ambassador John Ordway.<ref name=ordway1>{{cite web|title=Remarks of Ambassador Ordway, chargé d’affaires a.i. at the press conference|url=http://kazakhstan.usembassy.gov/pr-12-20-13.html|publisher=US Embassy in Kazakhstan}}</ref>

Ordway praised the "exceptional cooperation" between Kazakhstani law enforcement and the American [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], and that the FBI's results were consistent with the findings of the Kazakhstani Procurator General. <ref name=ordway1/> Ordway emphasized that the FBI's investigation was independent from the Procurator General's office, and the FBI had full and immediate access all materials and information.<ref name=ordway1/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4709580.stm BBC News obituary]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4736230.stm BBC News: Kazakh officers linked to murder]
* [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/01/f898bf0f-1e6a-414b-938f-bfddb59a6473.html Kazakhstan: Freed Opposition Leader Returns To Almaty]
* [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/12/CF021DC5-EB0D-4EB9-A24C-FE2B4C6B70DD.html Kazakh Court Upholds Sarsenbaev Murder Convictions]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarsenbayev, Altynbek}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Murdered politicians]]
[[Category:Kazakhstani murder victims]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:People murdered in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Naghyz Ak Zhol politicians]]
[[Category:Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol politicians]]

{{Kazakhstan-politician-stub}}

Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

2016 shooting of Almaty police officers

Ruslan Kulikbayev

Altynbek Sarsenbayuly