InfoHub Logo

A woman in Petropavlovsk, who served as a witness in a criminal case, was brutally assaulted over a year and a half ago. The assailant responsible for the attack, which left her with severe injuries, has yet to be apprehended. The victim is now voicing her dissatisfaction with the police's perceived inaction in the case.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

Yulia Sharafudinova recounted the incident in a video appeal, stating, "On October 21, 2024, around 10:30 PM, I was attacked. As a result, my face swelled up, my teeth were broken, and I sustained numerous head injuries. The attacker acted suddenly and unexpectedly. They were waiting for me, so I understand their intention was to cause me harm, possibly even kill me."

According to Sharafudinova, the assault was directly linked to her testimony in a criminal case involving the head of the firm where she is employed. She claims that shortly before the attack, she had refused to provide false testimony against her employer.

A Complex Legal Battle

The victim, Yulia Sharafudinova, and her employer, Dmitry Koshelev, explained that the situation began several years prior when Koshelev purchased a former cinema building. "I renovated it, carried out extensive reconstruction and modernization, purchased modern equipment, and created an entertainment center with a cinema. Several years later, when the property's value had significantly increased, the former owner decided to rescind the deal and filed a civil lawsuit. The contracts clearly stated the money had been transferred, but the former owner claimed they hadn't received the funds, or had received too little. All courts – city, regional, and supreme – ruled against him, recognizing the deals as legal and me as a bona fide purchaser," Koshelev stated, presenting court decisions as evidence.

After all legal proceedings concluded, the former building owner filed a police report in 2023, alleging that the new owner had acquired the property through fraud. "Despite the legally binding court decisions, the police registered this complaint and initiated an investigation. The case was closed eight times due to a lack of criminal elements, only to be reopened later," the businessman noted.

Threats and Surveillance

Yulia Sharafudinova, who has worked as an accountant at the company since 2015, was a key witness in the legal proceedings, providing testimony to both the courts and the police. She reported that after one of the investigations in 2024, men with athletic builds began appearing at her workplace. "First, they offered me a reward to change my testimony against my boss and to stop testifying. I, of course, refused. Then they started threatening me, saying things like, 'Aren't you afraid to walk around the city?' and 'We'll be waiting for you.' Honestly, I thought it was just intimidation and didn't believe they would act on it. Soon after, we found a GPS tracker on my car, and we realized we were being watched. We informed the police, but they took no action," Sharafudinova stated.

The Attack

On October 14, 2024, the police closed the case against Dmitry Koshelev due to a lack of criminal elements. Just one week later, on October 21, Yulia Sharafudinova was attacked in her home courtyard. Surveillance cameras captured the assault.

"A man suddenly emerged from behind a car and struck me with a blunt object – knocking out eight of my teeth, fracturing my jaw in several places, and cutting my forehead down to the bone. I ran into my house in shock, and neighbors called an ambulance. I had to have stitches for my injuries at the hospital. It's still difficult for me to recall this," the victim admitted.

Sharafudinova underwent several complex surgeries and continues to suffer from the consequences. She experiences persistent headaches due to a concussion and relies on painkillers. The psychological trauma is also significant; she fears the dark, feeling as though she is still being watched.

"Immediately after the attack, the police opened a case under Article 106 of the Criminal Code ('Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm'). Initially, the investigation was swift. The identity of the attacker, the vehicle they used, and who had threatened me were established. Initially, they were considered suspects, but later reclassified as witnesses. The case stalled, with inexplicable examinations conducted, questioning whether the surveillance footage was tampered with or if I could have inflicted the injuries myself," the victim complained.

An Elusive Suspect

According to Yulia's lawyer, Rustem Malkenov, the investigation was suspended during the examinations, and the attacker was effectively not pursued. The lawyer stated that the suspect was only put on a wanted list five months later. "It became known that he had left for a neighboring country. I requested an international commission to be sent to the Russian Federation to help locate the suspect, but the police have not yet responded to this request. This could have advanced the search," the lawyer believes.

Currently, the case has been suspended again due to the ongoing search for the suspect. "Other responsible parties will not be held accountable. I have repeatedly petitioned the prosecutor's office to separate the case concerning them and conduct an investigation, but my requests have been denied," the victim added.

Interestingly, the case against her employer has been reopened. Yulia has been summoned for further questioning, facing the same inquiries. Consequently, Sharafudinova expressed renewed concerns for her safety and has little faith that the perpetrator will be apprehended and punished.

The press service of the North Kazakhstan Region Police Department informed a Tengrinews.kz correspondent that they are taking measures to identify and apprehend the individual suspected of harming the resident of Petropavlovsk. "The suspect has been placed on an interstate wanted list. The situation is under the control of the police department's leadership," the department's press service explained.

Previously, it was reported that a man in the Zhetysu region attacked a neighbor woman with a shovel, resulting in her hospitalization with multiple injuries. The motive for the attack was reportedly a warning issued to the aggressor.