President Tokayev upholds online trials in Kazakhstan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently remarked on several high-profile cases streamed online by the Supreme Court, highlighting that these broadcasts are boosting legal literacy among Kazakhstanis, according to Kazinform.

Speaking at the Congress of Judges, Tokayev noted that millions of Kazakhstanis have tuned in to public trials, witnessing the transparency of the judicial system firsthand. He emphasized that these broadcasts have strengthened citizens’ trust in the system and raised their expectations of prosecutors and judges.

«Judges and prosecutors’ actions are now visible to all citizens. This transparency is a key benefit of the online judicial process. It also reflects the growing interest among young people in pursuing careers in law,» Tokayev said.

The president highlighted that these broadcasts not only enhance public legal knowledge but also reinforce the rule of law. He further voiced his support for adopting a new Code of Judicial Ethics.

Between March and May 2024, the trial of former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev was held in an Astana court, with all sessions broadcast live on YouTube by the Supreme Court. Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the torture and murder of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. The decision to broadcast the trial was motivated by strong public interest in the case.

Another online trial was held in Almaty, where 32-year-old Darkhan Akhmetzhanov was sentenced to eight years in prison for assaulting bus driver Yermek Shokebayeva. After the attack, Shokebayeva lost consciousness and her bus ploughed into a crowded bus stop, killing three people.