Following the much publicised and criticised recent visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the British government is meeting and greeting Nursultan Nazarbayev, the leader of Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev, like Xi Jinping, has no regard for human rights. Opponents of his regime are ruthlessly dealt with. He is a dictator in all but name as only tame opposition parties are allowed to contest elections. Those who claim that the way to liberalise countries like Kazakhstan is to do business with them should look at the facts. In 2011, 70 oil workers protesting in Zhanaozen were shot by police. Survivors of the massacre have struggled to find work or get proper medical care. Instead of expressing remorse, Nazarbayev promoted the local mayor and launched a “forward plan” which among other things gave the courts powers to jail union leaders for calling a strike for up to 12 years.

Tony Blair, who has been paid millions by Nazarbayev for “consultancy”, should be ashamed that lawyers like Vadim Kuramasov, who have defended Nazarbayev’s opponents in the courts, continue to be arrested and jailed on trumped-up charges. Aron Atabek, a renowned poet, remains in prison after protesting at the destruction of workers’ homes. Workers trying to organise independent and free trade unions face victimisation, harassment and often worse.

While the living standards of ordinary Kazakh people fall due to devaluation linked to the decrease in commodity prices, Nazarbayev has amassed a fortune, making him one of the richest men in the world through the selling off of Kazakh oil, gas and mineral companies to US, Russian, Chinese and British companies. British business may profit from closer ties with Kazakhstan, but it will be on the back of further repression and increased poverty for the Kazakh workers. By welcoming Nazarbayev and continuing to support trade with Kazakhstan, the British government is propping up a dictatorship. Is this what David Cameron and George Osborne mean when they talk about promoting “British values”?

Mike Whale

Secretary, Campaign Kazakhstan

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