Kazajstán - Refusal to register the SFWEU Almaty branch

The Sectoral Fuel and Energy Workers Union (SFWEU) attempted to register its branch in the city of Almaty, sending all the necessary registration documents to the registration authorities on 30 December 2021. However, by Order No. 299 of the Department of Justice of the City of Almaty dated 11 January 2022, the registration was suspended. The reason given for the suspension of registration referred to a contradiction of the branch’s Terms of Reference to Article 1 of the RK Law “On State Registration of Legal Entities and Records Registration of Branches and Representation Offices”. However, no specific provisions were mentioned. The activists resubmitted documentation for registration within one month of the decision, but the Department of Justice of the City of Almaty issued a decision on 10 February to refuse registration.