Who Was Saltanat Nukenova? Kazakh Astrologist Beaten To Death By Husband

Kazakhstan's former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years in prison on May 13 for torturing and beating his wife, astrologist Saltanat Nukenova, to death in November 2023. The former politician was caught on camera dragging his wife by her hair, relentlessly beating and kicking her at a family restaurant last November. 31-year-old Saltanat succumbed to brain damage a few hours later. The brutal attack caused massive outrage across the world, and the trial was seen as a litmus test for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's promise to foster a fairer and more equitable society.

Bishimbayev, aged 44, had previously served under Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former leader, in the ministry. Despite a 10-year prison sentence for bribery in 2018, he was granted a pardon less than two years later. His trial in the gruesome domestic violence and murder case has been seen as an attempt to send a message that members of the elite are no longer above the law, Al Jazeera reported.

The Grim Discovery and Horrifying Footage

During a recent court session, chilling video footage revealed the 44-year-old ex-minister repeatedly assaulting his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, at a family restaurant. Bishimbayev can be seen mercilessly punching and kicking the defenceless 31-year-old within the restaurant's confines. Despite Nukenova's attempts to escape, including seeking refuge in a restroom, Bishimbayev's violence continued unabated.

The prosecution recounted how he throttled her into unconsciousness while seeking assurance from a fortune teller as she lay on the ground covered in blood. Tragically, the arrival of medical assistance came too late to alter the grim outcome. Despite frantic efforts to resuscitate her, Saltanat Nukenova succumbed to the grievous injuries inflicted upon her.

Nukenova's cause of death, according to a coroner's report, was head trauma, with numerous bruises and a broken nasal bone evident. Bishimbayev, who admitted to assaulting his wife but claimed her death was "unintentional," faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of severe brutality. 

The murder trial, broadcast live on social media, has sparked national attention and sparked conversations about domestic abuse and gender equality in Kazakhstan. Many Kazakhs consider Bishimbayev to be a typical member of the country's wealthy governing elite, and they are concerned that even if he is found guilty, he will likely get away with proper punishment, as was the case with a prior conviction.