A book on the history of the Kazakh justice
system was presented in Astana. The author is Omirserik Kozhabayev, an experienced
lawyer and retired judge of the Kazakh Supreme Court. His scholarly work traces
the origins of popular justice from Maiky to Abai. The publication, released in
three languages - Kazakh, English, and Russian - is a unique attempt to reflect
on the institution of noble judges called bi not only as a historical
phenomenon but also as a living tradition of grassroots democracy and steppe
justice. In his book, Kozhabayev details how a dispute resolution system
functioned based on honesty and deep respect for justice in a nomadic society.
Special attention is given to the roles of prominent figures such as Tole bi,
Kazybek bi, Aiteke bi, Anet bi, as well as the spiritual legacy of Abai.
«Abai is widely known as a poet, philosopher,
and thinker – but few realize he was also involved in jurisprudence and served
as a bi. The Kazakh school of justice is founded on the principles of fairness.
Historically, Kazakhs had no prosecutors, no police, and no formal judges –
legal matters were resolved by bi judges. I believe their legacy remains valuable
today not only for prosecutors, police officers, and judges, but for society as
a whole,» Kozhabayev said.
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