Jamilya Dzhamanbaeva, the Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan, made a loud statement calling on government agencies to intensify the fight against domestic violence. This demand arose as a result of a horrifying incident that occurred in the Talas region, where a 28-year-old woman was burned over 60% of her body after her husband doused her with gasoline and set her on fire.
This tragedy, the details of which became known only recently, took place in the village of Boo-Terek in the Bakai-Ata district in October of last year. The victim's mother recounted how on that day her son-in-law, while intoxicated, threatened his wife. After he could not find an axe, he returned with a canister of gasoline. While the mother was trying to shelter her children in a neighboring room, the man carried out his threat. The woman ignited instantly, and she was only able to escape thanks to the help of passersby who heard her screams and took her to the hospital.
According to the investigation conducted by the Ombudsman Institute, it was revealed that the husband's relatives tried to conceal the true circumstances of the incident. While the victim was in intensive care, they attempted to convince the doctors that it was an "accident" while lighting a stove. Only months later, when the husband began to beat the woman again, she was able to tell her mother what really happened and ask for help.
Currently, the woman and her two children are in Bishkek. She requires long-term medical treatment and psychological rehabilitation. It is known that the suspect is a 32-year-old employee of the Talas city hall. The case has already been transferred to the Bakai-Ata District Police Department, and an official investigation has begun. Jamilya Dzhamanbaeva has taken the situation under her control, demanding strict punishment for the guilty party. She emphasizes that impunity only contributes to new acts of violence and that law enforcement agencies must demonstrate that the law in Kyrgyzstan is capable of protecting women.
