The trial of a former Kazakhstan minister accused of beating his wife to death has become a national focal point, seen by many as a test of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s pledge to create a fairer society.
Saltanat Nukenova, 31, was discovered dead last November in a restaurant owned by a relative of her husband Kuandyk Bishimbayev, where the couple had spent nearly a full day and night. She had been unconscious for several hours.
During a recent court session, an 8-hour-long footage was presented showing 44-year-old Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former economy minister, repeatedly beating his wife Saltanat Nukenova. The surveillance footage captures Bishimbayev kicking and punching his 31-year-old wife in the restaurant owned by his family. He is then seen dragging her by the hair to a room without cameras.
The prosecutor described how Bishimbayev continued the assault when Nukenova attempted to escape by hiding in the toilet. He broke down the door, pulled her out, and continued beating her, eventually grabbing her by the throat, causing her to lose consciousness.
As Nukenova lay on the floor, covered in blood, Bishimbayev called a fortune-teller, who assured him that his wife would be fine. However, the ambulance arrived 12 hours later, and medical staff declared her dead at the scene.
According to the coroner’s report, Nukenova died from brain trauma, with one of her nasal bones broken and multiple bruises on her face, head, arms, and hands.
Bishimbayev faces charges of torture and murder with extreme violence, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The murder trial, broadcasted live on social media, has captivated public attention and ignited a debate about gender equality and domestic violence.
Many Kazakhs view Bishimbayev as a typical member of the country’s wealthy ruling elite and fear that, even if found guilty, he may escape proper punishment, as he did with a previous conviction. Bishimbayev was arrested in 2017 on bribery charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released after less than three years due to an amnesty and parole.
Source: NDTV