Ranger arrested over mass murder at Kazakh national park

Forest ranger Alexey Shkilyov was arrested over the mass murder at the Aksay Gorge of the national park near the former Kazakh capital of Alma-Ata, Gazeta.ru reports.

The ranger will be under detention for up to 2 months, his lawyer Ermurat Mukanov said.

Shkilyov’s houe had two burnt rifles, although no proof that the rifles belonged to the particular ranger was presented. Investigators did not check whether the weapons belonged to the guests killed at the ranger’s house. Only two people were witnesses in the case.

Seven bodies were found at the national park on August 13. Five more were found later. Panayot Zakharopulo, a ranger notorious for fighting  poachers, and his family were found stabbed.