Former Kazakh Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev could potentially face a 20-year prison sentence if convicted, as the charge against him for murder has been elevated to murder with extreme violence, according to Deputy Prosecutor-General Zhandos Omiraliev’s statement on November 30.
Omiraliev noted that the initial charge carried a penalty of 8 to 15 years imprisonment, but the revised charge could result in Bishimbaev facing 15 to 20 years if found guilty. Additionally, a relative of Bishimbaev has been arrested for failing to report the ongoing crime.
In 2018, Bishimbaev and 22 others underwent a high-profile corruption trial, culminating in his conviction for bribery and embezzlement while heading a state-controlled holding company. Although initially sentenced to 10 years, he obtained early release through a government-decreed mass amnesty after serving approximately 18 months.
Bishimbaev’s recent arrest for allegedly beating his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, to death in an Almaty restaurant has sparked discussions on domestic violence in Kazakhstan. Many have expressed concerns about perpetrators avoiding justice, highlighting domestic violence as a persistent issue in the country.
Responding to public outcry, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev publicly urged the Interior Ministry to oversee the investigation under “special control.” The Interior Ministry reported over 100,000 officially registered cases of domestic violence annually, with analysts suggesting the actual number of unreported cases is likely higher.
International rights organizations have long called on Kazakh officials to address domestic violence. According to United Nations experts, approximately 400 women die each year in Kazakhstan due to domestic violence.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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