Kazakh Journalist Union Chief's Trial Postponed Again Due To Poor Health

The head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union and chairman of the National Press Club has been rushed to a hospital for the third time since the start of his trial in August for alleged fraud and tax evasion.

Seitqazy Mataev felt sick on his way from his home, where he is under house arrest, to the courtroom on September 5 in Astana and was hospitalized with high blood pressure.

Mataev's lawyer says the trial was postponed to September 13.

Mataev was taken to hospital with high blood pressure twice before, on August 23 and August 29.

Mataev went on trial on August 23 with his son, Aset, the director of the KazTAG news agency, who also faces fraud charges.

The Mataevs were detained in February. Both deny the charges against them and rights groups have denounced the charges as politically motivated.