US lawyer Zeltser can die in prison

Representatives of the US Embassy in Belarus have visited the US citizen Emanuel Zeltser in the remand prison of the KGB.

As the BelaPAN was informed by the press-service of the diplomatic mission, the administration of the prison was handed pills prescribe to the US citizen by his doctor and delivered from the US.

E. Zeltser complained of “persistant pain” and expressed fear that “won’t survive till the end of the prison term”. “The US authorities are still seriously concerned by the state of health of Emanuel Zeltser and continue to urge the Belarusian regime to release him,” the press-service informs.

Mr. Zeltser on August 11 was sentenced to three years in prison by the Minsk City Court, found guilty of "attempted industrial espionage" and the use of fake documents. He is to serve the term in the standard regime penal colony. He has been found not guilty of smuggling narcotic and psychotropic substances through Belarusian customs border. The pills confiscated during his arrest had been taken by Zeltser for the last 15 years and prescribed by his doctors. The authorities of the US seek his release on humanitarian grounds, as his health has deteriorated greatly in prison without drugs advised by doctors.

It should be noted that on August 18 the American-Russian Law Institute (Arli), issued an address to Foreign Minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau (Martynov) and to a number of Belarusian and Russian officials. It is stated in the address that according to the knowledge of the US Department of the State, on August 15 Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, who had been in the international search for 15 years, was offered an opportunity to visit E. Zeltser in the KGB remand prison in Minsk.

“Berezovsky tried to intimidate Zeltser, demanding Emanuel to palinode and change his testimony in behalf of Berezovsky. Otherwise, as Berezovsky told, “it would be worse for you, as I am the master of this country,” the letter reads.

The American-Russian Law Institute (Arli), has called upon “taking appropriate measures against certain Belarusian officials” who are in cahoots with self-exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky wanted by Russia. In a statement, the Arli claimed that Mr. Berezovsky was in Minsk on August 5 to testify at the trial of American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser, who chairs the institute.

The BelaPAN was unable to confirm or prove wrong these reports at the KGB of Belarus. The press-service of the Foreign Ministry said that “the essence of the letter is out of their sphere”, and correspondence is not commended by them.

It should be noted that Berezovsky does not comment his travels around the world for fear of attempts on his life.