Armed Attack: Berdenov Liked My Wife’s Photo – Yernar Zhiembay Speaks in Court

The trial over the armed attack on Deputy Akim Ruslan Berdenov continues in Shymkent. Today, the accused, Yernar Zhiembay, took the stand and presented his version of events, an Orda.kz correspondent reports from the courtroom.

Zhiembay said it all began with something seemingly harmless:

Berdenov liked my wife’s photo and wrote: ‘You are beautiful.'

According to him, this happened in March, shortly after Berdenov’s appointment. A notification about the “like” appeared on his wife’s phone, which sparked a family argument.

I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but later it led to a conflict between my wife and me. She said she didn’t know him, the accused told the court.

He noted that he has known his wife, Luiza Aldanova, since school, and that they have children together — their eldest has autism.

Work Conflict

Zhiembay also described a tense relationship with his boss. According to him, Berdenov once summoned him to his office for an unpleasant conversation.

He asked me: ‘Where did you come from?’ I didn’t understand why he had such an attitude toward me. He told me to write a resignation letter, and I was ready to quit. Later, I heard that he wanted to sue me. This caused me a lot of stress.

In court, he said that Berdenov insulted him:

He told me: ‘You will go to prison, your wife will become a prostitute, and your children will be orphans. Do you need that?’ I was furious and wanted to hit him, but I restrained myself.

Forced to Slander The Akim?

According to Zhiembay, on April 20, he quarreled with his wife again. She packed her things, said she was going to Astana, and planned to file for divorce. The next day, he intended to go hunting with a friend “to relieve stress.” He had a hunting rifle and about five rounds of ammunition with him.

That evening, he said, he received a message telling him to go to the akimat for a meeting with Ruslan Arysbekovich. There, he allegedly saw Deputy Akim leaving the building, and at that moment, the idea came to scare him.

I fired, he fell. I ran up and said: ‘Why ruin someone else’s life?’ I didn’t see any blood and had no intention to kill. I knew I’d go to jail, but I thought it would be for a couple of years. I regret what I did, the defendant told the court.

He further claimed that someone tried to frame the incident as a contract killing. Allegedly, Berdenov himself suggested he testify against Akim Gabit Syzdykbayev, saying that Syzdykbayev had hired him as a killer.

He told me that if I said this, he would forgive me and save me.

Zhiembay also denied that he was drunk on the day of the attack: “I only drank kumys.”

Earlier this spring, Ruslan Berdenov was the target of an armed attack. Yernar Zhiembay, his former subordinate, is accused of attempted murder. The victim did not attend today’s hearing; his lawyers presented a medical certificate explaining his absence.

The Deputy Akim’s legal team is requesting that the case be sent back for further investigation.

Original Article