Kazakhstan's Supreme Court has handed down a significant ruling in a case that has captured the attention of the Central Asian nation. The court convicted a former government official of torturing and murdering his wife, resulting in a 24-year prison sentence.
The trial of Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former economy minister, shed light on the issue of domestic violence in Kazakhstan. Following the tragic death of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, thousands of people called for stricter penalties for domestic violence. In response, authorities passed a bill to strengthen spousal abuse laws.
Despite efforts to address social issues, Kazakhstan continues to grapple with challenges such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, and gender disparities in the workplace. Bishimbayev's trial, which was the first in the country to be live-streamed online, sparked widespread discussions on social media.
Nukenova, 31, was discovered deceased in a restaurant owned by one of her husband's relatives. Initially maintaining his innocence, Bishimbayev later confessed in court to physically assaulting his wife, leading to her death. Medical evidence supported the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.
In connection to the case, Bishimbayev's relative, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, received a four-year prison sentence for aiding in the cover-up of the murder.
Following Nukenova's tragic passing, her family launched an online petition advocating for 'Saltanat’s Law' to enhance protections for individuals vulnerable to domestic violence. The petition garnered over 150,000 signatures, and public support for stricter laws on abuse continued to grow.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized the importance of safeguarding women's rights and has taken steps to address the issue. In response to the family's petition, the President intervened after the Justice Ministry initially declined to consider it.
