In this episode of Rotten Mango, the disturbing case of a former minister's deadly domestic abuse is examined. The family of Sultanat Nukianova recounts her years of suffering at the hands of her powerful husband Bishimbayev. Details emerge of Bishimbayev's brutal final attack that ended Sultanat's life.
The summary delves into Bishimbayev's alleged attempts to cover up the crime, leveraging his family's immense wealth and influence to smear Sultanat's reputation. It explores the imbalance of power between the two families and Sultanat's loved ones' resilient pursuit of justice despite facing intimidation from Bishimbayev's formidable connections. As the trial unfolds, questions arise about potential manipulation and compromised integrity.
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As Sultanat's brother Aypek recounts, Sultanat endured a continuous cycle of control, physical assault, and emotional abuse from her husband Bishimbayev over many years. Despite attempts to leave him, Bishimbayev convinced her to stay through manipulation and temporary reprieves from the abuse. On the final night, Bishimbayev brutally attacked Sultanat after she expressed wanting to end the marriage, leaving her with severe injuries.
After killing Sultanat, Bishimbayev fabricated a story about her having a "self-exit" and portrayed her as mentally unstable. As Aitbek, Sultanat's other brother describes, Bishimbayev and his family smeared Sultanat's reputation by accusing her of alcoholism, drug use, and infidelity, despite evidence disproving these claims. Bishimbayev also tampered with evidence and used connections to impede the investigation.
The Bishimbayev family wields significant "old power" through their wealth, political ties to Kazakhstan's elite, and ability to influence national decisions. Their wealth allows them to control narratives by paying journalists and leveraging intimidation tactics.
The trial process emotionally devastated Sultanat's family, from her father's hospitalization to her mother enduring Bishimbayev's slander in court. Aitbek, however, persisted with a social media campaign to raise awareness despite the challenges of facing such a powerful adversary.
In court, Bishimbayev smirked while lying, making baseless claims against Sultanat's family. His defense presented questionable evidence and changed stories, insinuating Sultanat may have been the aggressor. Despite raising doubts about the integrity of the investigation, Sultanat's family remained determined.
Police failures, potential leaks, and denying the family access to Sultanat's belongings raised concerns over Bishimbayev's potential influence. Facing a massive disinformation campaign, the family still secured the case reaching trial through tenacity and public pressure. However, Bishimbayev's connections leave uncertainty around full accountability.
1-Page Summary
Sultanat Nukianova's marriage to Bishimbayev was defined by a continuous cycle of control, physical assault, and emotional terrorism, ultimately culminating in her tragic death.
Sultanat experienced relentless abuse at the hands of Bishimbayev. She attempted to leave Bishimbayev approximately eight times, but he always managed to draw her back in with promises of change and moments of happiness. Sultanat sent her brother Aypek a picture displaying her injuries, including two black eyes. She remained hopeful that children might recenter Bishimbayev's life, however, this hope did not materialize due to her high stress levels.
Despite her brother Aypek's urging and offer to help her leave, Sultanat stayed, succumbing to Bishimbayev's manipulation. At times, Bishimbayev would not allow Sultanat the autonomy to use Instagram or to work, and her communications appeared to be monitored.
On the final night, a concert preceded a violent altercation where Sultanat was publicly humiliated by Bishimbayev, which was just one part of the intense emotional abuse she endured. The violence escalated at the BAU restaurant where Bishimbayev taunted and physically attacked Sultanat over the course of the evening.
Sultanat expressed a desire to leave the relationship as she was exhausted from Bishimbayev's infidelity and abusive behavior. It was on this night that Bishimbayev brutally assaulted her, resulting in graphic injuries across her face and head, evidencing an ongoing pattern of physical abuse.
Bishimbayev spun a story that Sultanat died due to a "self-exit," implying she injured herself from falling when he had locked her in a bathroom stall with him. Self-contradictory accounts of Sultanat's cause of death and his denials, including claims of Sultanat being mentally unstable and an alcoholic, were attempts to smear Sultanat’s reputation and deflect blame.
The abuse and murder of Sultanat Nukianova by her husband Bishimbayev
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The case involving the Bishimbayev family and Sultanat's family highlights a stark power dynamic rooted in the former's wealth, influence, and connections within Kazakhstan's elite.
The Bishimbayev family, described as having "old power," is a force that far eclipses "new power" like celebrity status. Their wealth and connections allow them to impact national decisions, such as interest rates and public school funding. Bishimbayev senior, the patriarch, is not only a prominent academic but also close to the former president of Kazakhstan. His family's influence is so extensive that they could ruin lives and coerce others to turn against those they target.
Bishimbayevs go to great lengths to protect their position by leveraging their resources, including paying journalists to spin narratives in their favor. This control over media plays into the family’s intimidation tactics against Sultanat's family.
The trial process inflicted a significant emotional toll on Sultanat's family. Sultanat's father was hospitalized because of stress, while her mother had to endure Bishimbayev's slander against her daughter during court proceedings. The prosecutor's detailed account of Sultanat's injuries and Bishimbayev's justifications for his actions added to the family's anguish. Sultanat's mother's confrontation with Bishimbayev in court underscores the depth of the family's despair and their search for acknowledgment and justice.
The power dynamic between Bishimbayev and Sultanat's struggling family
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The trial of Bishimbayev has unfolded with contentious defense strategies, leaving the family of Sultanat to fight for justice amidst questions about the potential influence of Bishimbayev’s connections.
Bishimbayev is accused of lying in court and making baseless allegations against Sultanat's family. During his testimony, often smirking, his attorney explained this behavior as recollection of happy times with Sultanat. The defense has been presenting shaky evidence, including a disputed note that they claimed was written by Sultanat. In court, Bishimbayev admitted his previous story was a lie upon learning that CCTV footage still existed. The defense attempted to submit pictures of a VIP room from a date after the murder, but the court dismissed them. Additionally, a petition for a private pathologist to present findings was denied, as the findings were dated post-mortem.
Bishimbayev’s narrative attempted to paint Sultanat as the aggressor, claiming that after hours of her berating and cheating confessions, he lost control but not with "particular cruelty or intent to kill." Questions about Sultanat's preferential relationship dynamics were also raised indirectly, insinuating she may have been the dominant partner.
Eitbeck, Sultanat's brother, unexpectedly learned about his sister's death through a leaked WhatsApp message, suggesting potential leaks or complicity within the police. The police’s knowledge and lack of urgency when Eitbeck called about the incident raised further concerns. Complications continued for the family as they were denied access to Sultanat’s belongings without police intervention.
Despite Bishimbayev’s powerful stature, Sultanat’s family remains determined. The absurdity of Bishimbayev's claims has been met with laughter in the courtroom by the family, yet this underscores their profound pain. Aitbek has used facts and documents to refute allegations, with the family grievously feeling Sultanat’s absence.
Sultanat's father petitioned the president for ...
The ongoing trial proceedings and difficulties the family faces in proving Bishimbayev's guilt
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