Former Kazakh economy minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, 44, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison by Kazakhstan’s top court for the torture and murder of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, 31.
The trial, broadcast live over seven weeks, aimed to demonstrate that even elites are subject to the law.
Surveillance footage showed Bishimbayev assaulting Nukenova in a restaurant VIP room owned by his family in Astana.
Despite calling a fortune teller for reassurance, Nukenova died while Bishimbayev delayed seeking medical help.
Additional videos on Bishimbayev’s phone depicted him verbally abusing Nukenova.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s push for a fairer society, including women’s rights, gained support from the public, leading to the recent passage of a law against domestic violence.
Nukenova’s death prompted an online petition for “Saltanat’s Law” to protect domestic violence victims, supported by thousands.
Government statistics reveal a high rate of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, with many cases going unreported.
During the trial, Bishimbayev admitted to beating his wife but denied planning her murder. He previously served as economy minister from May to December 2016 and was convicted of bribery in 2018, receiving a 10-year sentence but was released in less than three years due to amnesty and parole.
