Amid a scandal over the death of a former economy minister's wife, Kazakhstan has toughened penalties for domestic violence

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed amendments aimed at combating domestic violence. From now on, beatings will be punishable by a fine, community service and arrest, Zakon.kz reports, citing Tokayev's press service, UNN reports . 

The law aims to improve the legal, economic, social, institutional and organizational framework of state policy on women's rights and child safety. According to the publication, the law introduces rules that increase responsibility for any manifestations of violence against women and children.

In particular, the law introduces criminal liability for intentional infliction of minor injuries and battery (previously, administrative liability was provided for). For causing light harm to health and battery , the offender faces a fine, community service, and arrest. The maximum penalty for light harm to health is up to 50 days, and for battery - up to 25 days. 

In addition, the law makes it impossible to reconcile the parties in cases involving physical violence and cruelty against children, as well as in cases of repeated acts under the articles on beatings and infliction of minor injuries within a year of the reconciliation.

It also introduces liability for sexual harassment of persons under the age of 16. 

Addendum 

On April 11, a regular court session was held in Kazakhstan in the scandalous case of the murder of the wife of the former Minister of Economy of Kazakhstan, Saltanat Nukenova, with particular cruelty. The judges interrogated the second defendant, Bakhytzhan Bayzhanov, who is being tried under the articles: "Concealment of a crime" and "Failure to report a known particularly serious crime." 

The main trial in this case began on March 27 with the participation of a jury.

The husband of the victim statesthat there was no intention to kill. However, the ex-official admits that he and his wife Saltanat used to have fights. He says that his civilian wife was nervous, aggressive, psychologically unstable, constantly tormented him with suspicions of infidelity and jealousy, and abused alcohol.

The forensic examination in the case of his murder indicates that the former Minister of Economy of Kazakhstan, Bishimbayev, may have strangled his wife. The expert noted that the woman was not only beaten on the head many times, but also strangled.