Kazakhstan: Trade Union activists in jail

Today, 7th of April, Astana city Court No.2 of Almaty District passed a verdict on the case of Nurbek Kushakbayev, deputy chairman of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan CNTUK (that was forcibly liquidated by the Kazakh authorities) and the labour inspector of the oilfield service company «Oil Construction Company» (OCC).

The chairman of the OCC workers’ trade union, Amin Yeleusinov, and labour inspector Nurbek Kushakbayev were arrested on 20 January and still remain in jail. Today Nurbek Kushakbayev was convicted by article 402 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (this is the first time, when this article was applied) in connection with calls for a strike. The judge also fully satisfied the demands of the OCC on recovering from the union leader of 25 million tenge (approximately 75 000€) of allegedly suffered damage.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said, “We call on the authorities in Kazakhstan to ensure this completely unjust verdict is annulled, and that Nurbek Kushakbayev be freed. He and the other trade unionists being persecuted by the authorities should be allowed to carry out their legitimate trade union activities in accordance with the right of all workers in the country to freedom of association. This verdict will further damage Kazakhstan’s reputation with other countries that are important to its economy.”

More information:
Kazakhstan: Government Action Against ITUC Affiliate
Kazakhstan: Repression of Independent Trade Unions

Labourstart campaign
Kazakhstan: Stop repression, start dialogue with workers