Almaty, Kazakhstan – A former Minister of Kazakhstan is facing charges of torture and murder with extreme violence, following a brutal attack on his wife that resulted in her tragic death. The 43-year-old ex-economy minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, was captured on camera dragging his wife by her hair and subjecting her to hours of physical assault at a family-owned restaurant in November 2023. The victim, Saltanat Nukenova, 31, succumbed to brain trauma shortly after the vicious ordeal.
The harrowing incident, which unfolded over eight hours without police intervention, has sparked outrage and brought attention to issues of domestic violence within Kazakhstan. During Bishimbayev’s trial at the Supreme Court, CCTV footage of the violent attack was shown, marking the first trial to be streamed online in the country.
Reports indicate that Bishimbayev and Nukenova had spent a significant amount of time together before the assault took place. Despite the severity of Nukenova’s injuries, Bishimbayev has maintained his innocence, claiming that she died from self-inflicted wounds. However, a coroner’s report pointed to the extent of the physical trauma she endured, including a broken nasal bone and multiple bruises on her body.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed a bill known as “Saltanat’s Law”, aimed at strengthening laws against spousal abuse. This legislative response comes amidst concerning statistics revealing high rates of violence against women in Kazakhstan, where one in six women has reportedly experienced abuse at the hands of a male partner.
The Central Asian nation has grappled with issues of domestic violence, particularly following the decriminalization of such offenses in 2017. Critics argue that this move has deterred many victims, especially from marginalized communities, from coming forward to report abuse. As the country faces renewed debate over its approach to combating domestic violence, the tragic case of Saltanat Nukenova serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for meaningful reform.