Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former government minister in Kazakhstan, received a 24-year prison sentence for the killing of his wife. The verdict was delivered by a jury in an Astana court on May 13, with the proceedings broadcast live on YouTube. Bishimbayev was also ordered to pay court costs, estimated at over $5,000.
Bishimbayev, 44, was arrested in November in Astana after police found the body of his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, 31, showing signs of severe beating. The incident occurred after the couple spent a night at a restaurant owned by Bishimbayev, with surveillance footage capturing the crime.
The case attracted national attention and was seen as a test of Kazakhstan's justice system. The trial raised questions about whether a former official could escape justice and highlighted the government's efforts to combat domestic violence.
While some observers expressed disappointment with the punishment, others believed that harsh penalties are necessary to deter domestic violence. Zhanar Sekerbayeva, head of the Almaty-based women's rights organization Feminita, argued that Bishimbayev deserved a life sentence.
In April, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed amendments to increase penalties for domestic violence. However, activists, including Sekerbayeva, called for further legislative reforms to address domestic violence effectively.
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