Ambassador who tortured his wife sentenced: torture, jealousy, and trial

A highly publicized trial concluded in the city of Astana, Kazakhstan. The court sentenced Saken Mamash, who was known for his diplomatic service and had previously worked at the UAE embassy, Tengrinews.kz reported.

The former diplomat was convicted of torture and violence against a woman and sentenced to 6 years in prison. Mamash will serve his sentence in a medium-security facility. The court also decided to strip him of his first-class advisor diplomatic rank.

Mamash was charged under Article 110, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. It prescribes 4 to 7 years of imprisonment for physical and psychological torture. According to the court verdict, between 2019 and 2024, from Astana to Abu Dhabi, Mamash systematically subjected his wife Karina Mamash to violence due to baseless jealousy.

The court confirmed that he repeatedly punched Karina, especially in various parts of her body and head. He also restricted her communication with relatives and friends, and monitored her actions, phone calls, and social media messages.

Karina Mamash had earlier addressed the public with a video message on social media. Following that video, Saken Mamash was recalled to Kazakhstan, and a criminal case was officially opened against him. During the trial, Mamash’s guilt was fully proven through the victim’s statements, witness testimonies, expert conclusions, screenshots, and video recordings.

After the verdict was announced, Karina said on her page:

“Let him feel it. Maybe he will understand. He used to laugh, but now justice has been served. I thank all the girls who supported me, all the media, and every person who reached out to me. I see everything, I read everything. I rarely posted anything. Once again, I want to say a big thank you. Girls, know this: a person who loves you will never beat you.”

Karina’s words evoked widespread sympathy in society. It must be acknowledged that such situations exist in the country. The encouraging part is that a new law on the protection of women's and children’s rights has been adopted in Kazakhstan, marking a major turning point in the fight against domestic violence.

This incident, like the tragedy involving Kuandyk Bishimbaev, who murdered his civil wife Saltanat Nukenova and was sentenced to 24 years in prison, once again shows that a strong stance against domestic violence is forming in society.

Today, thanks to crisis centers and the active efforts of human rights defenders in Kazakhstan, an environment is forming where violence does not go unpunished. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!