Kazakh Authorities Open Investigation After Temir Mayor Found Dead

The authorities in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe Region have opened a pre-trial investigation after the mayor (akim) of Temir city, Erkin Dalmagambetov, was found dead on December 20. The Aktobe regional police department confirmed the death and said the circumstances are being established. "Police have opened a pre-trial investigation into the suicide. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated," according to an official statement. Local officials also confirmed the death. Almas Zhaksylykov, the akim of Temir District, told reporters that Dalmagambetov was found at home on the evening of December 20 and that authorities were conducting checks. Several Kazakh outlets reported that Dalmagambetov was 46 and left six children. Dalmagambetov led Temir, a small city in western Kazakhstan, for less than two years. He was appointed on June 3, 2024, after local elections held the day before, according to a Temir District akimat announcement published on the government’s portal. Temir is the administrative center of the Temir District in the Aktobe Region. The area sits in western Kazakhstan, a region known for energy, mining, and transport routes. The Aktobe Region has a population of about 928,000, based on recent official estimates. Kazakhstan’s akims serve as local executive leaders, with responsibilities that range from municipal services and budgeting to implementing national programs at a local level. In smaller cities such as Temir, the mayor’s office is often closely tied to day-to-day issues such as utilities, roads, schools, and public order. The case has drawn wide attention online. The authorities have not announced funeral arrangements or any interim leadership decision for Temir city. The Temir District akimat has not published additional details beyond confirming the death, with the police saying they will not disclose more information during the investigation.

Over 100 Female Suicides Reported in Tajikistan in First Half of 2025

In the first six months of 2025, 102 women and 30 girls died by suicide in Tajikistan, according to figures announced by Bunafsha Fayziddinzoda, head of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs. Disturbing Trends While the overall number of female suicides declined by eight cases compared to the same period in 2024, the number among girls rose by six. The Committee has been conducting large-scale preventive efforts. As part of its outreach, 430,264 families were visited in a “door-to-door” campaign, accompanied by 3,847 “district-to-district” and “village-to-village” meetings and 795 school-based awareness events. Gender-Based Violence: Not Just a Women’s Issue From January to June 2025, authorities recorded 2,121 cases of violence, 277 more than in the same period last year. Women accounted for 1,763 of these cases, up by 256, while cases involving men fell to 251, a decline of 86. Fayziddinzoda cited the primary causes of domestic violence as spousal conflict, jealousy, third-party interference, and mental or physical illness. Economic and sexual violence were also reported. She added that in many cases, violence against men is perpetrated by in-laws, including a wife’s brothers, fathers, and uncles. In July, the Committee launched hotline 1313. It received 58 calls in its first month, nine of them from men. According to Azimova, male callers reported abuse by wives, daughters-in-law, and in some cases, their own mothers. Children and Marriage Official data showed that 30,356 marriages were registered in the first half of 2025, a slight increase of 78 from the same period in 2024. However, 4,117 marriages were dissolved, affecting 3,632 children. While divorces decreased by 291 cases, 230 court-sanctioned marriages involving minors were also registered, 100 fewer than last year. Nonetheless, 26 early marriages involving underage girls were reported. Those responsible have been prosecuted under Articles 168 and 169 of the Criminal Code. Penalties include fines of up to 150,000 somoni ($15,700), corrective labor, or up to five years of restricted liberty. Education Access and Structural Challenges Obstacles to compulsory secondary education also increased: 271 cases were recorded, 59 more than in the previous year. Those found guilty, usually parents or guardians, face prosecution under Article 164 of the Criminal Code, with penalties of up to $9,500 in fines, compulsory labor, or up to two years of imprisonment. Compulsory education in Tajikistan now includes grades 10 and 11, a move implemented in 2024 to combat early marriage, particularly in rural regions where girls were often removed from school after grade 9. Azimova stressed that violence is not confined to socially disadvantaged families. “Today, there are people who are seen as model citizens, even hajis, who unfortunately behave unacceptably toward their wives and children, unbeknownst to those around them,” she said. The Committee reiterated that violence and crime cut across all segments of society and must be addressed universally.