A court in Pavlodar has sentenced a man to 11 years in prison over the death of 30-year-old Yerganat Bisembayev, who was fatally stabbed in summer 2025 after standing up for a friend in a courtyard on Nurmagambetov Street, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to case materials, Bisembayev was visiting a friend in July 2025. After 10 p.m. he was preparing to leave and was already waiting for a taxi outside when he saw several men attack his friend and intervened. He was stabbed in the fight and died of his wound.
The criminal case was initially opened under the article "Murder." However, a jury trial returned a verdict of exceeding the limits of permissible self-defense and sentenced the defendant to one year in prison. The victim's family and the prosecutor disagreed with the decision and secured the reversal of the verdict in an appellate court.
The case later returned to court, this time under the article "Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm resulting in death by negligence." It was compounded by an extortion offense the defendant committed while in custody. He was ultimately sentenced to 11 years in prison on the combined charges.
"Yes, life goes on — I work, I raise my children. My mother and sisters are nearby and help with raising the children. Of course, the sentence handed down is very just, but the pain has not gone away and never will. He will serve his time and get out, but no one will bring my husband back," said widow Aizada Bisembayeva.
Yerganat Bisembayev is survived by two children, now aged 3 and 6. The sentence has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed.