Kazakhstan's vast energy wealth has made it an important geostrategic partner for many countries and institutions and raised the political stakes inside the country significantly. As a consequence, in recent years the
government undermined freedoms to shield itself from public scrutiny and political rivals, and to protect its substantial control over the hydrocarbon sector. We believe a candid assessment by the EBRD of the Kazakh government's progress and shortcomings in human rights can do much to promote the cause of reform in Kazakhstan.