Nick Clegg raises human rights in Kazakhstan

The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, attending the OSCE summit in Astana, took the opportunity to address trade and human rights issues in Kazakhstan.

On Thursday evening he met with representatives of major UK companies in Kazakhstan, including BG Group and Shell, to hear their perspective on trading in the country, and on Friday he met with representatives of Kazakh NGOs as well as opposition party leaders. He discussed these and other issues at his summit meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

Nick Clegg said: "The UK government is equally committed to improved human rights across central Asia. Kazakhstan has made important reforms in this area which need to be recognised. As I said to President Nazarbayev, we hope to see those reforms go further and faster, something that would also create the best climate for business and stability."