22/08/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Saturday 20 August, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service welcomed the conditional release of "prominent" human rights activist and Kazakh political opponent Vladimir Kozlov, who had been in prison since 2012 following the Zhanaozen events of 2011 when the town was the scene of worker demonstrations. In a press release, the spokesperson stated: "Further steps should now follow, leading to the full rehabilitation and release of all those civil society activists currently detained or under restriction of movement in Kazakhstan, in line with the country's international commitments". The spokesperson reiterated that the enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan committed the parties to cooperating on the promotion and effective protection of human rights. (CG)