"He fully supports Bishimbayev's version." The family of Saltanat Nukenova, who died at the hands of her husband, is not ready to forgive her brother Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who did not help her

The family of Saltanat Nukenova, who died at the hands of her husband, former Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Bishimbayev, is not going to forgive his brother Bakhytzhan Baizhanov. He is the owner of the establishment where Saltanat died, and was present there on the night she died, after which he also found himself in the dock.

“Our family will not forgive Baizhanov! Behind his pitiful statements, we did not see the truth! He poured “water” about how he regrets. But everyone noticed what a gorgeous performance they put on. Behind all this window dressing, Baizhanov fully supports Bishimbayev’s version,” said sister of the deceased Samal Nukenova on her Instagram account*.

According to her, Baizhanov acts in the interests of Bishimbayev’s lawyers, who does not admit guilt. “He confirms torture, for which Bishimbayev will be given a maximum of two years. But he does not confirm murder with particular cruelty, and this particularly serious crime could close Kuandyk for many many years or for life! Baizhanov never said why they drove the car into the parking lot, turned it around Saltanat’s body was covered with a blanket, for which they needed tape. He did not tell where the material evidence was, where the object was from which there was a splintered wound on the body.”

On Instagram* Samal also wrote that Saltanat hid many details of her life from her family and friends, and much became known only after her death.

Bakhytzhan, although he saw Saltanat after her husband beat her, did not try to help her. “I mistakenly thought that Saltanat was just fast asleep. My lightheadedness and lack of awareness of the moment did not allow me to see that Saltanat’s condition was critical. Together with Bishimbayev, we lifted her. I was on the left, and Bishimbayev was on the right. At that moment, Saltanat tried to get to her feet and squeezed my hand tightly. Now I think maybe she wanted to ask for help then, she was giving a signal,” he said in court.

He attributed it to mentality. “I felt sorry for Saltanat as a human being, but my Kazakh mentality, Eastern upbringing and modest character did not allow me to dictate to Bishimbayev or interfere in his family relationships. I grew up with the conviction that such issues should be resolved within the family.”

On the night of November 8-9, 2023, the former Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Bishimbayev beat his wife Saltanat Nukenova to death. Her death is widely discussed on social networks, with many demanding severe punishment for her husband, who remains the only accused. In court, he stated that Saltanat herself hit the walls and floor, and he allegedly did not strike her in the vital organs. But Saltanat’s relatives insist that she had previously complained of beatings from her husband, while she was emotionally and financially dependent on him.

Against the backdrop of a high-profile case, Kazakhstan adopted a law on ensuring the rights of women and the safety of children, aimed primarily at criminalizing domestic violence.

*Instagram belongs to Meta, a recognized extremist organization in the Russian Federation