The tragic incident that occurred in the city of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, shocked the public. On January 11, a girl from Shymkent, Nuroy Serikboy, was killed on one of the city streets. According to the investigation, dozens of stab wounds were found on the body of the deceased.
According to law enforcement agencies, the suspect was detained two days later 10 kilometers from the city and placed in a detention center. A 28-year-old man, Sherkhan Aymakhan, is suspected of the crime.
The deputy openly criticized the police's negligence
According to Murat Abenov, a member of the parliament of Kazakhstan, if the police had responded to the statements made by the girl's parents in a timely manner, perhaps Nurai's tragic death would have been prevented. According to the deputy, the suspect had been harassing the girl for at least six months.
It is reported that after the acquaintance, he sent a matchmaker to the girl's house, but received a refusal. After this, the situation became even more acute: as the first criminal act, the girl was abducted against his will, by force. The parents managed to get their daughter home and appealed to the Shymkent police to protect their child from violence. However, as the deputy noted, no criminal case has been initiated, no specific measures have been taken, and the suspect has not been arrested.
The President intervened and gave a strict instruction
The murder of Nurai Serikbay caused widespread discussion and strong discontent among the people of Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also addressed this issue.
At the National Kurultai meeting on January 20, the president instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give a legal assessment of the actions of Shymkent police officers, and the Prosecutor General to conduct a thorough investigation of the case.
Dismissals, criminal case and accountability
After the incident, the head of the Shymkent City Department of Internal Affairs, Nurlan Almasbekov, and his first deputy, Kurmanbek Sakhov, were dismissed from their posts.
According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, Sanjar Odilov, law enforcement officers are suspected of negligence. According to him, criminal proceedings have been initiated against officials who, despite the victim's application for marriage coercion, did not take measures to register a criminal case within the scope of their official duties. Some officials who did not accept the application and closed the case were dismissed.
Odilov noted that, first of all, officials of the district Department of Internal Affairs will be held accountable, and the actions of the city Department of Internal Affairs leadership will also be legally assessed.
Laws are stricter, but practice is decisive
For reference, in September 2025, Kazakhstan strengthened liability for forced marriage and bride kidnapping. Previously, the guilty party could avoid punishment if they "voluntarily released" the victim. The new law abolished this possibility: regardless of whether he released the girl or not, the guilty party must be held criminally liable.
Also, Article 125-1 on forced marriage has been introduced into the Criminal Code. In aggravating circumstances, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to ten years.
The tragedy related to Nuroy Serikboy reminded society of one strong signal: the presence of law is important, but timely response to appeals, early warning of risks, and preventive work are decisive factors.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
