ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN – A former Minister of Kazakhstan faces charges of torture and murder after a horrific incident at a family-owned restaurant in November 2023. The 43-year-old ex-economy minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, was caught on camera dragging his 31-year-old wife, Saltanat Nukenova, by her hair and subjecting her to a brutal eight-hour assault that ultimately led to her death from brain trauma.
The trial, held at the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan, revealed disturbing CCTV footage of Bishimbayev’s violent actions towards Nukenova. This trial marked a significant moment as the first to be streamed online in Kazakhstan, shedding light on the tragic events that unfolded at the restaurant owned by Bishimbayev’s family.
Reports from Reuters indicated that the couple had spent an entire day and night together before Nukenova was discovered unconscious at the restaurant. However, it took 12 hours for an ambulance to arrive, and tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death to be brain trauma, alongside visible physical injuries sustained during the prolonged attack.
Despite the overwhelming evidence presented during the trial, Bishimbayev maintained his innocence, claiming that Nukenova’s injuries were self-inflicted. This heartbreaking case prompted Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to sign “Saltanat’s Law” on April 15, aiming to strengthen laws against spousal abuse in the country.
Critics have highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, where government data reveals that one in six women has experienced violence from a male partner. The nation’s patriarchal society has faced scrutiny for decriminalizing domestic violence in 2017, leading to calls for legislative changes to better protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
In response to growing concerns, a bill advocating for the reversal of the decriminalization of domestic violence is currently under consideration in parliament. As Kazakhstan grapples with the aftermath of this tragic case, efforts to address and prevent domestic violence continue to be a pressing issue in the country.