Russia's Kobzon Collapses On Stage In Astana

Iosif Kobzon performs in Moscow in September.

Well-known Russian singer and member of the Russian Duma Iosif Kobzon has collapsed on stage while delivering a speech in Astana.

Kobzon, 73, was addressing a government-organized international conference in the Kazakh capital when he suddenly felt ill.

RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports that Kobzon tried to joke after the first symptoms of weakness, but then apparently lost consciousness and later had to be helped out of the conference hall by medics.

He was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with food poisoning, according to unconfirmed reports.