Baltabay had already been released from prison in August 2019, following a special decree by Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, that he be released on humanitarian grounds. This was preceded by a massive international trade union campaign, calling to reverse the unlawful sentence, which was considered by the international trade union movement a travesty of justice.
The Decree, however, did only ordered his release and did not nullify the sentence that included a fine. Erlan refused to pay that fine, claiming the right to appeal the sentence, the right that he was denied. Hence, in October 2019, Baltabay was returned to prison for 5 months for not paying this fine and served that term in full.
Currently, Baltabay is not allowed to be involved in any trade union activity for 7 years.
Kazakhstan is among one of the worst workers’ rights violators in the world and continues repressions against activists of the ITUC – affiliated Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Kazakhstan the forcefully dissolved by the authorities.