Kazakhstan’s First-Ever Domestic Violence Reforms: Saltanat Nukenova’s Murder

Kazakhstan dominates Central Asia economically and politically, having the highest Human Development Index in the region. Despite this development, Kazakhstan did not have any laws criminalizing domestic violence and protecting women until recently.

Kazakhstan is notorious for numerous horrifying domestic violence cases throughout Central Asia but had not established any laws to prosecute batterers and protect victims. The first-ever law was enacted on April 15th, 2024, by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who signed amendments to two laws simultaneously: “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Ensuring Women’s Rights and Child Safety” and “On Amendments and Additions to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Ensuring Women’s Rights and Child Safety.” Now, national legislation introduces criminal liability for domestic violence and life imprisonment for murder and sexual violence against children.

• The murder of Saltanat Nukenova was the catalyst for the enactment of these two laws, which have therefore received the unofficial name “Laws of Saltanat.”

Saltanat Nukenova was 31 when she was brutally beaten to death by her husband, Kuandyk Bishimbaev, the former Minister of the National Economy of Kazakhstan. According to the investigation, Bishimbaev beat and strangled his wife for several hours in the VIP cabin of his restaurant. Nukenova died as a result of a 230 ml blood hematoma in her brain, which is considered a lethal level. This tragedy happened on November 9th, 2023. And the court trial sentenced Kuandyk Bishimbaev to 24 years in prison on May 13th, 2024.

The murder of Saltanat Nukenova sparked a national outcry and prompted calls for legislative action against domestic violence. It also received widespread international media coverage, which led Kazakh officials to enact the “Laws of Saltanat.” It was a turning point for Kazakhstan, marking the legal protection of the rights and safety of women and children.

Tragically, it took the death of one innocent woman to gain international attention to finally make the Kazakh government pass laws against domestic violence. Similar cases to Saltanat’s have occurred before, and much work still remains to be done to combat domestic violence not only in Kazakhstan but in whole Central Asian countries.