In Kazakhstan, prison guard, who raped prisoner, was early released

Ruslan Khakimov, a former prison guard of the institution’s detention center ЛA 155/18, convicted of raping a prisoner, was released on parole for good behavior. For his crime, the ex-prison guard served less than half of his sentence. According to experts, according to the statements of the President Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev about the need to toughen punishments for rapists, such a friendly attitude towards Khakimov looks at least strange.

This story began in February 2015, when 32-year-old Natalya Slekishina was convicted in Taraz for fraud. Sometime later, the woman was escorted to Almaty. In December of that year, it turned out that Slekishina was pregnant. According to the convict, in August she was gang-raped.

“When I was in prison, I became pregnant as a result of gang rape by 4 officers,” Slekishina told reporters after the birth of her daughter. “Now they have opened a criminal case. They were Ruslan (police operative), Bauyrzhan (head of the regime institution), Lazizbek (guard) and Bauyrzhan (sergeant major).”

She also said that immediately after the rape she tried to hold the employees of the detention center of the institution ЛA-155/18, but her statements were not accepted. Moreover, the administration of the pre-trial detention center, trying to hide the fact of rape, sent Slekishina to Karaganda. There it was found that the woman was pregnant.

When the noise rose, it turned out that Slekishina had no long visits. Nevertheless, the colony’s staff did not believe the fault of their employees. As the deputy head of the educational work of this institution, Sergey Kurilov, told the Kazakh TV channel “KTK”, the convict first accused one employee, then two, then three.

“She adds names every time. In general, it’s not even the fact that they did it. Well, on this occasion, I can say that in our penitentiary system such a fact is generally the first time. We never had such facts before,” he emphasized.

However, a genetic examination showed that the father of Nazira, who was born in the colony, is the prison guard Ruslan Khakimov.

Despite this, at the trial, Khakimov, who incidentally turned out to be the only accused in the dock (the other three evaded responsibility), didn’t admit his guilt, saying that Slekishina had sexual intercourse with him voluntarily.

Just before the debate, Natalya Slekishina refused the services of the lawyer Ayman Umarova. As Umarova then reported on social networks, her client was forced to make such a decision because of the pressure exerted on her.

“Natalya told me that they put pressure on her: they take statements in advance that she has no complaints against anyone, then they frighten her that “something can happen” to her child. She also fears that they can do something through other convicted or investigative arrested… She was brought out to talk more than once. In addition, it was said that if she does not agree with these conditions, then she or her child may have problems. They also advised to refuse a lawyer, as they would provide her with one that would suit everyone…”, wrote Ayman Umarova.

A few days later, Slekishina handed Umarova a note asking her not to leave her. In her message, she indicated that she had been forced to change her testimony and refuse legal services. In addition, the woman notified in writing form the administration of the detention center, where she was at the time of the trial process, that she would go on hunger strike until she could meet with Umarova.

As a result, the Republic’s Prosecutor General’s Office was involved in ensuring the safety of women.

Towards the end of the trial, the list of articles presented to Khakimov was expanded. In addition to repeated facts of rape and abuse of power, he was also charged with torture.

By the court decision, Khakimov was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in prison. In addition, the court decided to deprive Khakimov of the special rank of major of justice, as well as deprive him of the right to hold positions in the public service for life. The court verdict entered into force on July 16, 2016.

However, as it became known the other day, Khakimov did not have to serve his full sentence. On June 18, 2019, the Zharma District Court of the East Kazakhstan region ordered Khakimov to replace the rest of the unserved part of his sentence with a restraint of liberty. In July, he was released. As explained in the Committee of the Criminal Executive System (CCES), such a decision was made due to the good behavior of the ex-guard.

“According to the Criminal Code, a person serving a sentence of imprisonment for crimes of small, medium gravity or serious crimes, in case of full compensation for the damage caused by the crime, or in the absence of malicious violations of the established procedure for serving the sentence, the remaining part of the sentence may be replaced by the court with more lenient kind of punishment. At the same time, a person can be fully or partially exempted from serving an additional type of punishment, with the exception of sentences for life,” it was said in the comment of the CCES.

It remains to add that in the case of Slekishina in November 2017, the former acting head of the pre-trial detention center ЛA-155/18 Ermek Omarbekov was also convicted. He was accused of inaction, because he didn’t take appropriate measures when a woman appealed to him with a statement about rape. The Turksib District Court found him guilty of abuse of power and inaction. Omarbekov received five years in prison with confiscation of property. He was also deprived of the rank of lieutenant colonel of justice and received a life ban on holding positions in government structures. In addition, the court ordered Omarbekov to pay Slekishina 260 US dollars in compensation for moral damage.

However, in February 2018, the appellate court reduced Omarbekov’s prison term to two years and canceled the confiscation of property.