Kazajstán - Denial of fundamental civil rights (2013)

Ever since the killings in Zhanaozen in December 2011 where the police shot 12 workers, public authorities have targeted leading oil workers and opposition activists who supported the strikers. Vladimir Kozlov, leader of Alga!, an unregistered opposition party, Mukhtar Ablyazov, an oil worker and a political activist are charged with inciting social discord and overthrowing the constitutional order. 13 people who had assumed active roles in the strike, including the most outspoken oil workers received prison sentences from 3 to 7 years in June 2012. During the trial both the defendants and witnesses testified to being tortured.