Almaty, Kazakhstan – A former Minister of Kazakhstan is facing charges of torture and murder with extreme violence after a disturbing incident involving his wife. The 43-year-old ex-economy minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, was captured on camera dragging his 31-year-old wife by her hair and subjecting her to a brutal eight-hour beating at a family-owned restaurant in November 2023. Tragically, his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, passed away from brain trauma in the aftermath of the violent assault.
The trial against Bishimbayev for the murder of his wife recently commenced at the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan, where CCTV footage of the horrific attack was presented. This marked the first trial in Kazakhstan to be broadcast online, shedding light on the severity of the case.
Reports revealed that Bishimbayev physically assaulted Nukenova for an extended period at the restaurant without seeking help from the authorities. Shockingly, it took 12 hours for an ambulance to arrive at the scene, by which time Nukenova had succumbed to her injuries.
A coroner’s report detailed the extent of Nukenova’s injuries, including brain trauma, a broken nasal bone, and numerous bruises on her face, head, arms, and hands. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Bishimbayev maintained his innocence in court, claiming that Nukenova’s death was due to self-inflicted injuries.
In response to this tragedy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed “Saltanat’s Law” on April 15, aimed at strengthening spousal abuse laws in Kazakhstan. This legislative action comes as a crucial step towards addressing the pervasive issue of domestic violence in the country, where one in six women has reportedly experienced violence from their male partners.
The Central Asian nation, which underwent decriminalization of domestic violence in 2017, is now reconsidering its stance on the matter amidst calls for legislative changes to provide better protection for victims. Critics argue that the previous laws only served to discourage victims from reporting abuse, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.
As Kazakhstan grapples with this tragic case and the broader issue of domestic violence, the implementation of “Saltanat’s Law” signals a pivotal moment in the country’s efforts to safeguard the well-being of its citizens and combat gender-based violence.