Daughter of striking oil worker found dead in Kazakhstan

Summary of story from Rferl.org, August 25, 2011

The 18 year old daughter of Qudaibergen Qarabalaev, an activist for Kazakh Oil Workers Union, was reportedly found dead with a fractured skull on August 24 in the Manghystau region of West Kazakhstan.

Zhansaule Qarabalaeva had been missing since August 21.

The strikers are demanding a wage increase, equal rights with foreign workers, the release of jailed union lawyer Natalya Sokolova, and the lifting of restrictions on the activities of independent labor unions in the region (see WVoN story).

More than 410 of them have been fired since the strike began. Several others have been brought to trial on charges of organizing unsanctioned mass gatherings.

Sokolova was found guilty of “igniting social hatred” and jailed earlier this month for six years.