Former Kazakh Minister faces trial for brutal murder of his wife.

A trial of a former top political official in Kazakhstan, accused of beating his wife to death, has captured attention in that country, prompting calls for new legislation to address domestic violence.

Shocking images from the court have been broadcast online, showing Kuandyk Bishimbayev, Kazakhstan's former Economy Minister, assaulting his wife in a family restaurant.

This case has shocked audiences, with tens of thousands of petitions seeking new laws that severely penalize abusers.

Why has this case acquired so much relevance?

The trial of Bishimbayev, 44, is the first in the country to be broadcast online, making it accessible to the 19 million people of Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country considered the ninth largest in the world in terms of territory.

The former politician was already known for having been imprisoned for bribery in 2018. He only served less than two years of his 10-year sentence before being pardoned.

Bishimbayev was accused of torturing and killing his wife after her death last November. Despite maintaining his innocence for weeks, last month he admitted in court that he had beaten her, "unintentionally" causing her death.

Saltanat Nukenova, 31, was found dead in November in a restaurant owned by her husband's relative.

The prosecution presented images from security cameras showing the defendant dragging his wife by the hair, then hitting and kicking her savagely.

Hours later, the woman died from brain trauma.

The trial began at the end of March this year and Bishimbayev could receive a sentence ranging from 15 years to life in prison, depending on the severity of the crime determined by the court.

The trial has highlighted the widespread problem of violence against women in Kazakhstan, prompting reflection on social behavior and legislative reforms.

According to a 2018 UN-backed study, around 400 women die each year as a result of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, although many go unreported.