18 November 2024 | 10:48

What the prison where Bishimbayev is serving his sentence looks like

©️ Tengrinews.kz / Turar Kazangapov

Tengrinews.kz – It became known recently that the convicted former minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, is serving his sentence for the murder of Saltanat Nukenova in Facility No. 5 of the department of criminal-executive system in Stepnogorsk. Several years ago, reporters from Tengrinews.kz visited this colony. Archival footage from there is featured in the article.

Tengrinews.kz – It became known recently that the convicted former minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, is serving his sentence for the murder of Saltanat Nukenova in Facility No. 5 of the department of criminal-executive system in Stepnogorsk. Several years ago, reporters from Tengrinews.kz visited this colony. Archival footage from there is featured in the article.

The colony where Kuandyk Bishimbayev is held is located not far from Stepnogorsk, just 10 kilometers away. Stepnogorsk itself is in the Akmola region, about a three-hour drive from Astana.

The facility is a maximum-security institution (where individuals convicted of serious crimes serve their sentences) and is enclosed by barbed wire.

The building is not new; it was constructed over 50 years ago.

Cameras for surveillance are installed around the perimeter and within the facility.

In the courtyard, there is a sculpture of famous Kazakh judges, symbolizing fair justice.

Inside the institution, everything is strict. "Do not slam the door," reads a sign at the entrance.

Visitors are issued passes behind these bars. No more than three people can be inside at once.

The rooms where prisoners sleep look like this. And not only them.

Even in a maximum-security facility, prisoners are allowed visits. Short-term ones are via video or in person, but through glass and by phone.

Long-term visits, up to two days, can take place in a special room.

There is also a kitchen and even a children's area for guests.

Prisoners dine in a common cafeteria.

The menu at the correctional facility is simple.

After the group finishes eating, everyone is searched before leaving the cafeteria. No utensils or food are allowed to be taken out.

Prisoners in the colony can work if vacancies are available. There are production workshops within the facility.

There are also recreational activities available to the inmates. For example, they can watch films, which must first pass censorship.

They can also read books or play chess.

Inmates have the opportunity to finish their schooling. Teachers are brought in specifically for this purpose.

There is also a college department.

At the end of 2022, around 600 inmates were held at the Stepnogorsk facility.

Earlier, the Committee of Criminal Executive System responded to a request from lawyer Zhanna Urazbakhova regarding the location of Kuandyk Bishimbaev's sentence.

It was revealed that the former Minister of National Economy is serving his time in Facility No. 5 at the following address: Akmola Region, Stepnogorsk, Industrial Zone 7, Building 14 A.

prison colony sentence murder punishment

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