Human rights activists urge IMF not to grant loan to Belarus

Freedom House human rights organisation and Patton Boggs law firm addressed the International Monetary Fund to reject reserve loan to Belarus. They ask not to give loans while American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser remains in KGB jail.

BelaPAN learnt if from Patton Boggs lawyer Joseph Brand, works for E. Zeltser.

According to him, the US Treasury and State Departments have been already informed about the petition. Besides, J. Brand says the firm plans to provide information to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

“The IMF deal will not be made without the approval of the United States Government and we think there is no chance that any approval will come if Emanuel Zeltser remains in jail,” Mr. Brand said.

As BelaPAN has learnt, Freedom House, an international human rights watchdog, has sent a similar petition to the IMF.

It should be reminded that on October 26, the IMF delegation arrived in Minsk for talks on reserve loan for Belarus. The IMF mission, headed by the Fund’s Resident Representative in the Russia Neven Mates, will work till November 6.

The National Bank of Belarus applied to the IMF for a 2-billion dollars reserve loan last week. The National Bank says the credit is needed to replenish the gold and currency reserves.

American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser and his secretary Vladlena Funk were detained at Minsk airport on March 12. On August 11, Zeltser was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of attempted industrial espionage and the use of fake documents. V. Funk was sentenced to one year in prison. The both say they are not guilty. The trial was held behind the closed doors.

On October 31, the Supreme Court is to hear a cassation appeal on the case of E. Zeltser and Vladlena Funk. The session of the Supreme Court was scheduled for September 26, but it was delayed as “additional documents” were needed.

The US authorities call necessary medical care to be one of the key requirements for improving US-Belarus relations and seek his release on humanitarian grounds, as his health has deteriorated greatly in prison. The head of the US Helsinki Commission addressed the chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly asking to take part in releasing of the American citizen.

In August, the US embassy gave all necessary medications to the Belarusian authorities, but Zeltser didn’t receive them.