Arrests and detentions of legitimate trade-union leaders and activists of the civil society
Akzhanat Aminov’s case
Background information: Akzhanat Mendibaevich Aminov was born on 10 September, 1957. He has obtained higher education, he is the head of social-administrative maintenance of Development and the Management of Bore-Holes (UOS-5) of the production branch of “OzenMunayGaz”.
On 17 August, 2011 Akzhanat Aminov, an activist of the strike of oil industry workers of the company “OzenMunayGaz” was sentenced to one-year imprisonment suspended for two years under Article 334, paragraph 2, and Article 63, paragraph 5, subparagraph 1 of the Criminal Code (CC) of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Akzhanat Aminov has already been released from under arrest. During the prosecution he has spent almost two months under custody.
Akzhanat Aminov was arrested on 30 June, 2011 for two months under Article 164 of the CC of the Republic of Kazakhstan – “incitement of social hatred”. Aminov suffers from diabetes. He needs to be under a constant supervision of doctors. For 4 days from the moment of his arrest he has been completely isolated in a pre-trial detention facility, he has been refused medical aid, his relatives and his attorney have been refused the right to communicate with him, which constitutes a form of cruel treatment for the purpose of imposing pressure upon the striking workers.
According to Aizhangul Amirova, the representative of the Main Board of the opposition organization “National Front”, Akzhanat Aminov was not sentenced under the Article on “incitement of social hatred”, but for the organization of illegal meetings and political gatherings.
Article 63, paragraph 5, subparagraph 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan regulates rigid restrictions on his freedom: after 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. he cannot leave his house or his workplace and he is not allowed to leave the city or to participate or to be present in places of mass gatherings without permission.
Kuanysh Sisenbaev’s case
Since 1 July, 2011 Kuanysh Sisenbaev, the leader of the worker’s trade union of the company “Karazhanbasmunay” has been put under pressure imposed by the authorities in the city of Aktau. He was charged with organization of the oil industry workers’ protest march which took place in Aktau on 5 June, 2011. During suppression of the protest some demonstrators were detained by the police. Kuanysh Sisenbaev and his two colleagues were driven to a suicide attempt and, as a result, they were transported to a hospital. Sisenbaev is accused of infringement of the provisions of law under Article 373 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan: “infringement of regulations on an order of organization and carrying out of peaceful meetings, gatherings, marches, pickets and demonstrations”.
Natalia Azhigalieva’s case
On 8 July, 2011 Natalia Azhigalieva, an activist of the strikes of workers of the company “OzenMunayGaz”, the operator of the 5th category of oil and gas extraction management (NGDU) of “OzenMunayGaz” was dismissed from work. She was also in the group of 30 oil industry workers on hunger strike who were transported by force to a hospital in Zhanaozen on 8 July. On the morning of 11 July she managed to run away from the hospital guarded by special troops. A criminal case under Article 164 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan on “incitement of social hatred” is being prepared against her.
Nuryash Abdreymova’s case
Background information: Nuryash Abdreymova, born in 1955, the first secretary of Mangistau regional committee of the opposition Communist Party of Kazakhstan.
On 10 August, 2011, the Aktau Court convicted Nuryash Abdreymova, the opposition politician in Mangistau region, under paragraph 1 of the Article 373 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Infringement of regulations on organization and carrying out of peaceful meetings, gatherings, marches, pickets and demonstrations”) for participation in an unapproved meeting. She is obliged to pay a fine in the amount of 7560 tenges (approx. 36 Euro). According to Abdreymova’s words, she was fined for a civic attitude supporting the striking oil industry workers. On 8 August, in Aktau, a meeting of the striking oil industry workers and the representatives of opposition organization “National front” from Almaty was held in the premises of the company “Каrazhanbasmunay”.
According to Nuryash Abdreymova, she is constantly oppressed: “Near my house there are constantly policemen watching the house, and on 12 June, I was beaten up in front of the Department of Internal Affairs of the city of Zhanaozen; on 21 July, my door was set on fire with gasoline. I am being oppressed for my support to the striking oil industry workers: whenever it is necessary, I call the television, I write to a newspaper, I appeal everywhere”.
Dmitriy Tikhonov and Arman Ozhaubayev’s cases
Background information:
Dmitriy Vladimirovich Tikhonov, was born on the 12th of June 1987 in Taraz (the former Dzhambul). He has a higher education degree in pedagogy (teacher of Russian language and literature). He is a member of the organizations: Socialist Resistance of Kazakhstan, Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan, “Our Right!”, “Zhanartu” and the head of the press-service of the public organization “We will leave houses to the people”, an administrator of the website socialismkz.info.
Arman Ozhaubayev, was born on the 21st of October 1986, in Almaty. He has a higher education degree in pedagogy (teacher of history). He is a member of the organizations: Socialist Resistance of Kazakhstan, Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan, “Our Right!”, “Zhanartu”, and of the press-service of the public organization “We leave houses to the people”.
On 16 August 2011, according to the decision of the Specialized Interdistrict Administrative Court of the city of Almaty Dmitriy Tikhonov and Arman Ozhaubayev, activists of the Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan were put under arrest for 5 days under Article 373, paragraph 3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The arrest sentence for carrying out of the action in support of Natalia Sokolova, the lawyer of the striking oil industry workers who was sentenced within two minutes behind closed doors without observers or representatives of the press, the police and the district police officer called himself as a witness. He was the same district police officer who detained and drew up a report against the striking people. After serving the term of punishment, Dmitriy Tikhonov, an activist, filed a complaint about the living conditions in the cell and cruel treatment.
Zhanna Baitelova’s case
Background information: Zhanna Baitelova, born on 22 February 1986, graduated with a higher education degree in foreign languages, an activist of the youth movement «Zhastar 2012» and a known journalist of the newspaper “Voice of the Republic”. Zhanna is an activist in the Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan and she is a member of an initiative group of Nur-Otar.
On 23 August 2011, according to the decision of the Specialized Interdistrict Administrative Court of the city of Almaty (Kazakhstan), Zhanna Baitelova, an activist of the youth movement «Zhastar 2012» and a known journalist of the newspaper “Voice of the Republic” was put under arrest for 14 days under Article 373, paragraph 3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The journalist was convicted for carrying out the action in support of the striking oil industry workers of the Mangistau region and in support of Natalia Sokolova. The action was held on 17 August, 2011 near the office of Almaty branch of people’s democratic party “Nur-Otan”.