A Kazakh court has sentenced former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev to 24 years in prison for the torment and murder of his partner, Saltanat Nukenova. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including audio and video material, witness testimony, and forensic reports, to secure the guilty verdict. Bishimbayev has 15 days to appeal the decision and will not be eligible for parole until 2040.
Saltanat Nukenova’s tragic case sheds light on the pervasive issue of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, where hundreds of women face abuse annually. The upcoming enforcement of Kazakhstan’s “domestic violence law,” named after Nukenova, criminalizing battery and light bodily harm, aims to protect women from similar fates. The trial’s victim-blaming narrative underscores the need for authorities to prevent such attitudes in investigations of domestic violence cases and prioritize justice for victims.