Kazakhstan calls back diplomat accused of domestic violence in the UAE

The Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry has taken swift action in response to allegations of domestic violence against one of its diplomats stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Saken Mamash, a Counselor at the Kazakh Embassy in the UAE, has been recalled to Kazakhstan following accusations made by his wife, Karina Mamash.

The Ministry issued a statement saying, “We are urgently recalling this employee to Kazakhstan. Now law enforcement agencies will deal with his case.” The allegations came to light when Karina Mamash shared her story on social media through the foundation NeMolchi.kz (Don’t be silent), providing pictures and video evidence of the abuse she and her sister endured at the hands of Saken Mamash.

Karina revealed that she had been a victim of violence for ten years and called for her husband to be stripped of his diplomatic status and held accountable for the abuse she suffered, which ranged from physical and sexual to psychological and economic. This case has shed light on the issue of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, prompting a closer look at the country’s laws and protections for women and children.

Kazakhstan recently passed new legislation aimed at enhancing protections for women and children. The laws, “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Regarding the Protection of Women’s Rights and Children’s Safety” and “On Amendments and Additions to the Administrative Offenses Code of Kazakhstan Regarding the Protection of Women’s Rights and Children’s Safety,” were approved by the Kazakh Parliament and significantly strengthen protections for women and children.

The timing of these new laws coincides with the high-profile trial of Kuandyk Bishimbayev, Kazakhstan’s former economy minister, who is facing charges for the murder of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. The trial has drawn national and international attention, highlighting the urgent need to address domestic violence and hold perpetrators accountable.

Domestic violence against women is a prevalent issue in Kazakhstan, with thousands of cases reported each year. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that in 2023, courts convicted over 67,000 individuals of administrative offenses related to family violence, and police received nearly 100,000 reports of family violence.

The new legislation shifts the responsibility of gathering evidence in cases of domestic abuse to law enforcement, ensuring that all cases are logged and investigated by police, regardless of whether a survivor files a complaint. The law also eliminates the option of pursuing reconciliation between parties in cases of repeated violence.

While these amendments represent progress for Kazakhstan, there are calls for the criminalization of domestic violence as a standalone offense in the country’s legal framework. Human Rights Watch emphasizes that international human rights law recognizes domestic violence as a serious crime against individuals and society.

The case of Saken Mamash and the broader conversation around domestic violence in Kazakhstan highlight the importance of continued efforts to protect women and children from abuse and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. As the country moves forward with implementing and enforcing these new laws, the hope is to create a safer and more just society for all its citizens.