Kazakhstan: Authorities Clarify Role in Investigation into Killing of Former Judge in Germany

Former judge Aigul Sailybayeva was killed in Germany in June 2024. More than a year later, her relatives say the investigation has stalled, with only her mother-in-law, Natalia Dontsova, placed on the wanted list. 

For the first time, Kazakhstan’s Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov publicly commented on the case, Orda.kz reports.

Sadenov explained that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has no authority to conduct investigative work abroad.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan is not empowered to carry out operational and investigative activities on the territory of a foreign state. We are monitoring this. As far as I know, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working on it. We cannot say that we will conduct the investigation ourselves — we do not have agreements with Germany on this issue. I understand the pain of relatives, but believe me, the state is monitoring. I will also personally keep this case under my supervision, he told journalists in the Majilis.

The minister noted that Kazakhstan was able to assist in the investigation into the death of Kazakh citizen Asel Aitpayeva in Georgia, but only because Astana had an agreement with Tbilisi.

Sailybayeva’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds, placed in a plastic bag, and hidden in a sewer pipe near Lake Erlache, close to Bensheim.

At the time of her death, she was 24 weeks pregnant, according to an autopsy report.

In spring 2025, investigators identified Natalia Dontsova as the main suspect. She remains wanted across Europe. The victim’s family, however, insists Dontsova could not have acted alone.

Orda.kz also learned that in August 2024, Aigul’s husband, Aleksandr Dontsov, left for Russia. A Russian TV program, Petrovka 38, later showed a segment stating his daughter had received Russian citizenship.

In that interview, Aleksandr said he was now raising the child alone after his wife’s death. The video has since been deleted.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova