The judicial investigation into the murder of Saltanat Nukenova has been completed

In Kazakhstan, the judicial investigation into the case of ex-Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev, accused of murder and torture of his common-law wife Saltanat Nukenova, has been completed. Nukenova’s brother, Aitbek Amangeldy, announced this on his Instagram page (belongs to Meta, which is recognized as extremist in Russia and is banned). According to him, preparations are currently underway for the debate of the parties, which will take place on April 29 and 30, as well as on May 2, 3 and 4.

Former Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Bishimbayev beat to death (according to investigators) his common-law wife Saltanat Nukenova on November 9, 2023, in the Astana restaurant Bau, owned by his family. On the same day, Bishimbayev was arrested. The trial in the case began at the end of March. The former Minister of National Economy faces a prison term of 15 to 20 years. If it is proven that the crime was particularly cruel – up to life imprisonment. The decision on the guilt or innocence of the ex-minister will be made by the jury.

As Zakon.kz points out, before the completion of the judicial investigation, Judge Aizhan Kulbaeva asked whether the position of the defendant Kuandyk Bishimbayev on the charges had changed.

“I do not admit guilt in terms of torture. In the second episode, where I am charged with premeditated murder with particular cruelty, I admit that I inflicted the beatings that led to the death of Nukenova, but I do not admit that I did it intentionally,” Bishimbayev said at the hearing. The judge asked him whether he pleads guilty to causing bodily harm that negligently resulted in the death of Saltanat Nukenova. Bishimbayev confirmed her words.

Nukenova’s family brought lawyer Zhanna Urazbakhova, known for her many years of defending women victims of domestic violence, to participate in the process. The trial attracted special public attention in Kazakhstan and other CIS countries – the process is broadcast on YouTube, and a flash mob “For Saltanat” was launched on social networks, in which girls post their photos with glasses of wine and the caption “If I drink wine, this does not mean that I you can kill.”

The murder of Saltanat Nukenova became the reason for the resumption of public discussion in Kazakhstan about the problem of domestic violence. Last November, Kazakhstanis launched an open letter to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the Otinish.kz website, in which they demanded tougher punishment for domestic violence. Within a few months, the petition had been signed by more than 150,000 people. After the start of the proceedings in Nukenova’s case, an initiative group consisting of the Erkindik Kanaty Public Fund and other Kazakh activists and human rights defenders also launched the “Write a letter to Parliament” campaign with a request to residents of the country to send a letter supporting the law to the Senate. The initiative was supported by more than 5,000 Kazakhstanis, who sent letters to the Senate calling for the adoption of a law criminalizing violence in the country.

Deputies of the Kazakh Senate adopted a law on ensuring women’s rights and children’s safety in the first and second readings on April 11. It involves the criminalization of domestic violence in the country. Including, according to the amendments, articles on beatings and intentional infliction of minor harm to health will now be transferred to the Criminal Code. In addition, the law provides for the creation of family support centers in the country to help victims of violence. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law, popularly called the “Saltanat Law,” on April 15.