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The Meaning of Words in Modern Day Kazakhstan

Words do matter, in some places more than others, and at some times more than others. The great 19th century Kazakh poet '''Abay Qunanbayuli''' (Abai Kunanbaev in Russian) understood this, as he embraced the oral tradition of Kazakh folklore and turned it into a written tradition promoting Kazakh nationalism.

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Kazakhstan: Where the streets have no name

The streets of Aktau, Kazakhstan have no names. Literally. The city was founded to house workers in the early 1960s, when the Soviet Union was ascendant.

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Kazakhstan: Arrest and detention of labour rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaevaposted on: 2012/01/16

Human rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaeva, one of the leaders of the workers' strike committee of the oil company 'Ozenmunaigaz', was arrested on 3 January 2012 at her home in Zhanaozen, Western Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan: Update - Hope for imminent release of human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis on amnestyposted on: 2012/01/12

On 28 December 2011, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law on amnesty dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan: UPDATE - Front Line Defenders receives information from reliable sources concerning the conditions of detention of Ms Natalya Sokolovaposted on: 2011/12/20

Front Line Defenders has received information from reliable sources concerning the conditions of detention of Ms Natalya Sokolova, human rights defender and former legal representative for a trade union formed by employees of the Karazhanbasmunbay oil company.

Kazakhstan: Violent attack against human rights defenders and journalists Asan Amilov and Orken Bisenovposted on: 2011/11/07

On 26 October 2011, human rights defenders and journalists Messrs Asan Amilov and Orken Bisenov were attacked by four unknown individuals a few kilometres outside Aktau, the capital of Mangystau province.

Kazakhstan: Arbitrary arrest and administrative conviction of human rights defender and labour rights leader, Ms Natalya Azhigalievaposted on: 2011/09/13

On 8 September 2011, human rights defender and labour rights leader, Ms Natalya Azhigalieva, was arbitrarily arrested in Zhanaozen and subsequently sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention following a short trial which was held in camera on that same day.

Further Information

Natalya Azhigalieva is one of the leaders of the strike committee set up by workers of the oil company Ozenmunaigaz. In May 2011, oil industry workers throughout Kazakhstan began a strike which is currently ongoing, in response to a dispute which erupted in January 2011 regarding demands for an increase in salaries and an improvement in work conditions. To date, some 1200 oil industry workers have been dismissed for their participation in the strike, and a number of other human rights defenders and their families have been subjected to acts of intimidation, harassment, and violence.

According to the information received from Kazakh NGO 'Kadyr Kassiet' (Dignity), on 8 September 2011 at 1.30 pm approximately, as Natalya Azhigalieva was making her way to her relatives' home in Zhanaozen, she noticed that she was being followed by a black car.

Kazakhstan: Ongoing judicial harassment against detained human rights defender Ms Natalya Sokolovaposted on: 2011/07/14

Since 24 May 2011, human rights defender and trade unionist Ms Natalya Sokolova has been held in detention. On 31 May 2011, a criminal investigation was launched against her for “inciting social hatred”, under Article 164 (3) of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. Natalya Sokolova is the legal representative for a trade union formed by employees of the Karazhanbasmunbay oil company.

Kazakhstan: Front Line visit to imprisoned human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis gives little hope of imminent releaseposted on: 2011/05/18

On 17 May 2011, Front Line's Protection Coordinator visited Evgeniy Zhovtis, prominent human rights defender and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, in penal colony N in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Eastern Kazakhstan. Mr. Zhovtis is serving a four year sentence following a politically motivated unfair trial after he was involved in a fatal traffic accident.

Kazakhstan: Front Line visit to imprisoned human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis gives little hope of imminent releaseposted on: 2011/05/18

On 17 May 2011, Front Line's Protection Coordinator visited Evgeniy Zhovtis, prominent human rights defender and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, in penal colony N in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Eastern Kazakhstan. Mr. Zhovtis is serving a four year sentence following a politically motivated unfair trial after he was involved in a fatal traffic accident.

Further Information

To date, Evgeniy Zhovtis has been given 3 'warnings' by colony administration which prevent him from being eligible for conditional release despite his active involvement in the colony's life. He is providing prisoners with legal aid, has filed 50 complaints and won 12 cases before tribunals which have resulted in the release of 7 prisoners. He is also the captain of the colony's football team, is actively involved in sports activities and has helped to renew all the equipment that allows prisoners to get hot water in the collective showers, etc. Normally this would ensure that the warnings against him would be cancelled, however in this instance the prison authorities seem determined to ignore anything that would bring his release date forward.