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Kyrgyz wife killer's conviction sparks debate on domestic violence

August 05, 2011

Zabila Mataeva, mother of the slain woman, at a press conference on August 5

BISHKEK – The relatives of a Kyrgyz woman who was murdered by her husband say the court was reluctant to convict him, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Zabila Mataeva, from the southern district of Toguz-Toro in the Jalal-Abad region, told journalists in Bishkek on August 5 that her daughter, Cholpon Almambetov, was stabbed to death by her husband, Nurlan Almambetov, on May 12. He was convicted of murder and sentenced earlier this week to 19 years in jail.

Mataeva said it was very difficult for her and other relatives to ensure justice prevailed in the trial because local authorities and the court tried to drag out and delay the proceedings.

The relatives said the court issued a verdict only after they said they would hold a press conference in Bishkek about the case.

Mataeva said recently another woman was allegedly shot dead by her husband in Toguz-Toro, but neither local authorities nor police did anything to investigate the case.

Mataeva said that she and a human rights organization involved in defending women's rights have appealed to President Roza Otunbaeva and Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev to draft a policy to curb domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Violence against women, Violence against women, Domestic Violence,