Kazakh union leader Erlan Baltabay released23 March, 2020On 20 March, Erlan Baltabay, leader of the Independent Oil and Energy Workers’ Union in Kazakhstan, was released from prison.
Kazakh leader remains in custody on politically motivated charges19 December, 2019On 3 December, the Shymkent court of Kazakhstan rejected the appeal of Erlan Baltabay, a former chairperson of Energy and Oil Workers Union "Decent Work" who was sentenced in June 2019 to seven years in jail on politically motivated charges never proven in court.
Kazakh union leader Erlan Baltabay imprisoned again1 November, 2019IndustriALL Global Union and the ITUC are calling for the release of Erlan Baltabay, a leader of the Independent Oil and Energy Workers’ Union in Kazakhstan, who has been returned to prison to serve a new 5-month term.
Kazakh union leader freed12 August, 2019Through a special pardoning decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Baltabay, leader of the independent oil and gas workers’ union and vice-president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (KNPRK), was released from custody on 10 August.
IndustriALL calls for release of Kazakh trade union leader 24 July, 2019IndustriALL Global Union is calling for the immediate release of Kazakh trade union leader, Erlan Baltabay, after he was sentenced to seven years in prison by a Kazakh court on 17 July.
Kazakh trade union leader faces 8 years in jail1 July, 2019IndustriALL Global Union has called on the president of Kazakhstan to intervene in the trial of Erlan Baltabay, a prominent trade union leader who is facing eight years in a jail and lifetime ban on holding a union position. The court is due to give its verdict any day.
Activists in Kazakhstan face continued repression15 March, 2019Workers in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, have been holding rallies since 22 February, demanding increased wages for low-paid categories of workers to 150 thousand tenge (US$395), jobs for the unemployed, and full freedom to exercise trade union activities. Kazakh authorities have responded by arresting 19 people.
Union activists face new repression and attacks in Kazakhstan23 November, 2018Early 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.
Rebuilding union strength in Caspian region17 October, 2018Unions representing workers in the oil and gas sector of the Caspian Sea region gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for a network meeting on 3 October 2018.
Unions unite to defend workers’ rights4 October, 2018Over 80 delegates representing 40 IndustriALL affiliates from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) met on 1 - 3 October in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss effective trade union response against the challenges in the regions.
