Kazakh Journalist Taken Away After Meeting With Security Officials

An independent journalist in Kazakhstan is missing after meeting with officers from the Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB) in the capital, Almaty.

Ramazan Esergepov, the owner and editor in chief of "Alma-Ata Info" newspaper, was summoned to the headquarters of the KNB in Almaty on December 1.

His wife, Raushan, told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that Esergepov entered the building but never came out. She says she was told by KNB officials later that her husband had been taken to the city of Taraz for questioning in a case regarding an article that was printed in "Alma-Ata Info" 10 days ago.

Raushan Esergepova says her husband has been taken into custody without his medicine for high blood pressure.

Esergepov has had previous problems with local authorities due to his reporting.