Convicted in Minsk lawyer Zeltser needs urgent cardiac surgery

US citizen Emanuel Zeltser, serving his three-year punishment in Belarus, must be taken to the United States for cardiac surgery, including coronary bypass surgery.

Independent US physician Albert Benchabbat thinks so, BelaPAN reports.

After repeated appeals of the US authorities, A. Benchabbat was allowed to take part in medical examination of the prisoner, conducted by Belarusian physicians in a hospital of penal colony #15 of Mahilou on January 6. Having familiarized himself with the results of the examination carried out by his Belarusian colleagues, he left his recommendations and affixed a postscript about unstable state of Zeltser’s health.

The prisoner was examined by three physicians – representatives of the Ministry of Health Care, the KGB Military and Medical Department, and the Penal Correction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the preliminary diagnosis of the medical check, E. Zeltser suffers from numerous diseases, including seronegative spondylarthritis, arthropathy, kyphoscoliosis, diabetics, neuropathy, arterial hypertension, and peptic ulcer.

The Belarusian experts noted E. Zeltser complained at pains in different parts of spine, dizziness, and cough.

According to the prisoner he suffers from the gouty arthritics for 20 years, but the physicians found out he doesn’t have this disease.

The Belarusian specialists estimate Zeltser’s general condition as “satisfactory”, his treatment can be continued in the colony hospital with some corrections. An additional medical check will be conducted to confirm the final diagnosis.

Prisoner’s brother Mark Zeltser noted in an interview to BelaPAN “absurdity” of the conclusion of the Belarusian physicians saying E. Zeltser doesn’t have the disease, he had been treating in the US for many years and is suffering now.

In his view, the Belarusian authorities “do not plan to release Zeltser”, thought the United States insists on his release in the connection of his hard state of health that has deteriorated in custody.

Emanuel Zeltser was arrested on March 12, 2008. On August 11, the Minsk City Court sentenced him to three years of imprisonment for attempted industrial espionage and the use of fake documents. The Supreme Court of Belarus upheld this judgement on October 31. All trials in this case were held behind the closed doors.