News

Statement of Executive Committee of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic

On behalf of its members the BKDP Executive Committee expresses its deep indignation at continuing attacks of the authorities of Kazakhstan on the rights and freedoms of workers and our brothers and sisters from independent trade unions of Kazakhstan. The attacks are accompanied by reprisals, prosecutions, and threats to use physical violence against leaders and activists of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KNPRK) which recently has been unlawfully dissolved by the authorities.

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Skyting av streikende arbeidere, angrep på journalister og statsdrevet slavearbeid. Diktaturene i Sentral-Asia plager bokstavelig talt livet av egen befolkning – til øredøvende stillhet.

Statement of PERC Youth Committee on Trade Unions in Kazakhstan

On October the 22nd 2018, the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) Executive Committee adopted a recommendation to the ITUC General Council that the membership of the Federation of Trade Unions of Republics of Kazakhstan (FPRK) must be suspended.

Kazakhstan: Stop repression and physical attacks on leaders of independent unions; hands off Larisa Kharkova, Erlan Baltabai and Dmitriy Senyavskiy

Support the campaign "Kazakhstan: Stop repression and physical attacks on leaders of independent unions; hands off Larisa Kharkova, Erlan Baltabai and Dmitriy Senyavskiy", running in partnership with the International Trade Union Confederation, IndustriALL, KNPRK - the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan ,Confederation of Labour of Russia (KTR), Industri Energi and the Arthur Svensson Foundation.

Union activists face new repression and attacks in Kazakhstan

Early in November, Dmitry Seniyavskiy, a trade union leader of the local branch of the Fuel and Energy Workers' Union (FEWU) in the Karaganda Region was attacked and brutally beaten by a band of unidentified goons. FEWU leader Erlan Baltabai is under arrest on trumped-up accusations.

Kazakhstan: Attack on Trade Union Leader

Dmitry Senyavskii, leader of the Karaganda region industrial-tier fuel and energy trade union, was hospitalized. His injuries prevented him from meeting with a visiting international trade union delegation in the capital, Astana, three days later. Kazakh authorities initiated an investigation under the offense of “hooliganism,” but they should also examine the possibility that he was targeted because of his union activism.

French Journalist Detained In Kazakhstan While Preparing Report On 2011 Deadly Protests

Prado's interpreter, Danara Ismetova, told RFE/RL by phone that police on September 27 detained her and Prado in Aqtau, the capital of the Manghystau region, and took them to a local police station.

Solidarity award to persecuted unions in Kazaksthan

The Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights this 2018 is awarded to the Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, represented by Larisa Kharkova, Nurbek Kushakbaev and Amin Eleusinov. Trade Union leaders and activists of Kazakhstan face severe repression in due to their involvement with trade unions rights, and the rights of the working people in their country.

Kazakhstan Events of 2017

As the Kazakh government hosted high-profile international events, including EXPO 2017, an annual international exhibition, and several rounds of Syria peace talks, its human rights record further deteriorated. Authorities suppressed independent trade union activity and continued to target government critics, including journalists, with politically motivated criminal charges and other harassment. Several activists and union leaders remain wrongfully imprisoned. The government is considering legislative amendments that appear to propose even further restrictions on freedom of religion. Impunity for torture and ill-treatment in detention persist.

Coal Miners' Strike Spreads In Kazakhstan As Workers Stay Underground

SHAKHTINSK, Kazakhstan -- A strike by coal miners in north-central Kazakhstan has spread to more mines as hundreds of workers are refusing to return to the surface, demanding higher salaries and better benefits.