"Either I'll take his life or I'll lose mine."
In the heart of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on April 21, 2025, a shocking event unfolded. Deputy Mayor Ruslan Berdenov was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt near the city akimat building. The perpetrator, Yernar Zhiyembay, opened fire on Berdenov, resulting in injuries that required surgery, including the removal of part of a lung and liver reconstruction [1][4].
The court proceedings, which are currently ongoing, have shed light on a series of events leading up to the attack. It was revealed that Zhiyembay and Berdenov had two meetings, with the initiation coming from Zhiyembay himself [2]. During these meetings, Zhiyembay made threatening calls to Berdenov, stating, "I will die or I will kill him" ("Умру или убью его") [3]. Berdenov’s assistant, Talap Rakhymberdiev, testified about these threats in court [3].
The role of inspector Asanbay Akmentaev in this case is mentioned but not explicitly detailed in the available information [3][1].
Following the attack, Zhiyembay was immediately detained at the scene by Berdenov’s driver [1]. In August 2025, Zhiyembay was sentenced to nine years in prison for the attempted murder [2][5]. The trial featured Berdenov’s online testimony from hospital explaining that there was no prior personal conflict with Zhiyembay, who suddenly attacked him by shooting several times [4].
The court fully proved Zhiyembay’s guilt, and prosecutors sought an 11-year sentence, but the final sentence was nine years [2][4][5]. Berdenov described Zhiyembay's statements as manipulation and lies [5].
The details of the first meeting between Zhiyembay and Berdenov's team are less clear. It is known that Zhiembay did not have a ready presentation for his assigned work, and Rakhymberdiev reminded him of the hierarchy and ended the call [1]. Zhiyembay claimed that Berdenov abused his position and threatened to "put him away" [5].
In addition, Zhiyembay stated that Berdenov demanded that he incriminate the Mayor of Shymkent, Gabit Syzdykbekov [5]. It was also reported that Zhiyembay's attire did not meet the dress code of the akimat during the first meeting [1].
The details of the second meeting are not fully disclosed, but it is known that Zhiyembay called Rakhymberdiev and asked to speak to "Ruslan". After this call, Zhiyembay initiated the shooting [2]. No information about a control shot or ammunition was provided in the context of this article.
This is the most complete and detailed publicly available information on this case as of August 2025. It is a reminder of the importance of maintaining peace and order in our communities and the consequences that can arise from acts of violence.
Political discussions about the Shymkent incident, where Deputy Mayor Ruslan Berdenov was injured in an assassination attempt, have also incorporated the ongoing trial of the perpetrator, Yernar Zhiyembay, in the realm of general-news. The trial's revelations, including Zhiyembay's threatening calls to Berdenov and the failure to meet the akimat's dress code during their meetings, have sparked debates on crime-and-justice matters.
