Nuray Serikbai
In Shymkent, a large city in southern Kazakhstan, a criminal case has been initiated against police officers involved in the murder case of 21-year-old Nuray Serikbai. This was reported by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanjar Adilov, as conveyed by Tengrinews.kz.
According to Adilov, the police officers are suspected of negligence. “The investigation implies holding accountable those officials who, according to their duties, did not register a criminal case based on the victim's complaint about being forced into marriage. We are observing this now. (...) Those officers who did not accept the statement and dismissed the case based on the victim's complaint have been dismissed for negative reasons,” he noted.
He also added that the primary responsibility will fall on the district police department staff, and a legal assessment will also be provided for the leadership of the city police department. Recently, it became known about the dismissal of the chief of police of Shymkent, Nurlan Almasbekov, and his first deputy, Kurmanbek Sakhov.
The tragedy occurred on January 11, when Nuray Serikbai was found murdered on one of the city streets with multiple stab wounds. The suspect, 28-year-old Sherkhan Aymakhan, was detained two days later, 10 kilometers from Shymkent. Nuray's relatives reported that she had been stalked by the man.
Media reports also indicated that Aymakhan proposed to Nuray but was rejected, after which he kidnapped her. The girl was managed to be returned home to her relatives, who then contacted the police, but no case was opened based on their complaint.
The murder of the student has caused a wide public outcry in Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also commented on this matter, instructing the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct a legal assessment of the actions of Shymkent police at the National Kurultai meeting on January 20, and the Attorney General to thoroughly investigate all circumstances of the case.
