“He dragged her into a VIP room and beat her for hours. Then he had lunch with another woman as if nothing happened.”
What began as an unusual love story between a former government minister and an astrologer ended in national outrage, a live streamed trial watched by millions, and a historic legal change in Kazakhstan.
This is the tragic story of Sultanat and the man who destroyed her.
A Forbidden Beginning
Bish, short for Bishop Bive, wasn’t just any man. He had held top government positions in Kazakhstan, including Minister of National Economy. His name carried weight. But his past wasn’t clean.
Convicted of bribery, he was sentenced to ten years in prison. But thanks to powerful political connections, he walked free after just two and a half years.
At some point after his release, Bish stumbled across the profile of Sultanat, a gifted astrologer known for her beauty and eerily accurate readings. But she only worked with female clients to avoid harassment.
Determined, Bish convinced a female friend to book a session on his behalf. The friend met Sultanat and passed along Bish’s interest. Reluctantly, Sultanat agreed to meet him.
Their connection was instant. Within months, they were married.
The Charm Wears Off
Behind closed doors, the fairytale ended.
Bish quickly revealed a darker side. He forced Sultanat to shut down her business, cut her off from friends and family, and began physically abusing her.
Sultanat confided in her brother. She sent him photos of her injuries, naming Bish as her abuser. But at the time, domestic violence had been decriminalized in Kazakhstan, and Bish’s political influence made him nearly untouchable.
She was trapped.
The Night of the Murder
One night, the couple was at a restaurant owned by Bish’s family. An argument broke out.
Surveillance cameras captured the horror. Bish punched Sultanat, dragged her by the hair, and chased her through the restaurant. She tried to hide in the restroom. He broke down the door.
Then he dragged her into a VIP room, one of the only spots without cameras.
There, the violence intensified. Bish struck her repeatedly with a blunt object and filmed twelve chilling videos of her suffering. It was as if he was documenting a performance.
By the end of the night, Sultanat was unconscious and dying.
And Bish? He left her lying there and had lunch with another woman as if nothing had happened.
The Psychic Call and the Cover-Up
In a disturbing twist, Bish called a psychic to ask if his wife would survive. The psychic told him she would.
But Sultanat had already been dying for hours.
Instead of calling for help, Bish phoned a relative. Together, they sent restaurant staff home, erased footage, and tried to cover up the crime.
Twelve hours later, Bish finally called an ambulance.
When paramedics arrived, Sultanat had been dead for six to eight hours.
The Trial That Shook Kazakhstan
The public was furious.
Bish was arrested and charged with torture and murder. His trial became Kazakhstan’s first ever to be live streamed, and over 19 million people tuned in.
His defense painted Sultanat as unstable, a gold digger, and a drunk. They argued she provoked him. They pointed out that domestic violence wasn’t a crime.
But the prosecution had hard evidence.
They showed the violent CCTV footage. They played the twelve horrifying videos Bish had recorded. Jurors reportedly wept during the viewing.
Justice and Reform
The outcome was decisive.
Bish was found guilty and sentenced to 24 years in prison.
His relative, who helped cover up the crime, received a four year sentence.
But Sultanat’s legacy didn’t stop in the courtroom.
Her case triggered public protests, massive media coverage, and international pressure. In the wake of her murder, Kazakhstan officially criminalized domestic violence, a reform that had been long overdue.
A Tragedy That Sparked Change
Sultanat’s story is heartbreaking. But it also became a symbol of historic change.
She endured pain no one should ever face. And in death, her story forced a nation to confront its silence.
Her name now stands for something greater: courage, justice, and reform.
Why This Story Matters
Too many stories like Sultanat’s remain hidden, especially when the abuser holds power.
But this one broke through.
It’s a reminder that domestic violence should never be excused, ignored, or decriminalized, no matter who the perpetrator is.
And it proves that even one voice, silenced too soon, can shake an entire country to its core.
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