The trial of Kazakhstan’s former economy minister, businessman Kuandik Bishimbaev, in connection with the death of his wife Saltanat Nukenova has shaken the Central Asian country.
Disturbing CCTV footage of the domestic violence was shown in court, showing the ex-minister pulling his wife by the hair, then punching and kicking her. A few hours after the recording, she died of a brain injury.
Tens of thousands of people have signed petitions calling for tougher penalties for domestic violence.
Currently, the concept of “domestic violence” is not included in the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan.
Senators approved a bill strengthening domestic violence laws on April 11, and President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev signed it four days later. In honor of the victim, it was called the “Saltanat Law”.
The people of Kazakhstan have been captivated by Bishimbayev’s trial, which is being broadcast online for the first time in the country of more than 19 million people. People are actively talking about it on social networks.
Many see the trial as a moment of truth for Tokaev’s promises of reform and holding officials accountable.
44-year-old Bishimbaev was imprisoned in 2018 for bribery, but was pardoned less than two years after serving a 10-year prison sentence.
31-year-old Nukenova was found dead in November in a restaurant owned by one of her husband’s relatives.
Bishimbaev, who was accused of torturing and killing her, maintained his innocence for several weeks. However, on Wednesday, the ex-minister admitted in court that he had beaten her and “unintentionally” caused her death.
His lawyers initially disputed medical evidence that showed Nukenova died from multiple blows to the head.
They also portrayed Nukenova as someone prone to jealousy and violence, although none of the restaurant’s security camera videos shown in court show her attacking Bishimbaev.
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