Poor health delays trial of Kazakh Journalists' Union chief

    The trial of the head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union and chairman of the National Press Club has been adjourned due to the defendant's poor health.
    Seitkazy Mataev and his son, Aset, who is also on trial and is the director of the KazTAG news agency, went on trial on corruption charges in Astana on August 23.
    Seitkazy Mataev said he felt ill on the first day of the trial and was taken to a hospital with high blood pressure.
    Judge Akbolat Kurmantaev said on August 24 that the trial will resume on August 29 as doctors concluded that Mataev was not fit to attend the trial.
    The Mataevs were detained in February and later placed under house arrest.
    They have been charged with financial fraud. Seitkazy Mataev has also been charged with tax evasion.
    Both deny any wrongdoing, with rights organizations having denounced the charges as politically motivated, RFE/RL reports.