The trial of Russia's richest man, Mr Mikhail Khodorkovsky, on fraud and tax evasion charges was postponed to an unspecified date today, the day it opened in Moscow, defence lawyers said.
They said the court adjourned proceedings after hearing that one of the defence team, Mr Genrikh Padva, was recovering after an operation, lawyer Mr Yelena Lipster said.
"Today there was a motion to postpone the hearing because Padva had an operation yesterday, and that has been met. There will be a postponement," said defence lawyer Mr Charles Krause.
Mr Khodorkovsky, former chief executive of oil giant YUKOS, is on trial with business associate Mr Platon Lebedev, another major shareholder in YUKOS.
The three judges were still meeting to consider a separate appeal by Mr Khodorkovsky and Mr Lebedev to be allowed home during the trial.
There was no word on when the trial would resume though Mr Padva submitted documents justifying an absence until June 21.