Belarusian diplomatic courier turned out to be arms dealer

Diplomatic mail was used for illegal trade on arms.

On Friday 6 September the Federal Court of Pennsylvania East County will pass a verdict on the case of Siarhej Baltutski, a Belarusian citizen, accused of creating a criminal grouping, which traded on arms. According to the version of the investigation agencies, Baltutski led the arms smugglers group in the United States. The group’s members were Jahor Jasin, Aliaksandr Belski, Vital Cishuk, Aliaksandr Stashynski, Volha Dubouskaja (all in Philadelphia), Ernest Chernoletskiy (Chicago) and George Tsarik (Florida), The Voice of America reports.

“Baltutski also worked with two people, living in Belarus: Raman Jasieu and a diplomatic courier, known under the initials A.S. and working for the government of Belarus. The goal of the scheme was to illegally sell and exports from the USA to Belarus large batches of hi-tech military equipment, which was a subject for exports control.

In particular sights for automatic rifles, infrared imager systems and other night vision goggles for military use were exported”, - Pennsylvania East County court’s memorandum says, issued on Thursday.

The real name of the diplomatic courier with the initials A.S. is unknown.

All the items of equipment listed are forbidden for export, however neither Baltutski, nor other group members did not obtain a license for the export, the statement says.

Altogether during their illegal activities Baltutski together with his partners in crime bought equipment, forbidden to be exported from the territory of the USA, for over $700 thousand.

However, the communiqué says, the exact amounts of purchases and sales are unknown to the investigators, because the criminals sent a large number of parcels, the contents of which still remains unknown.

“Baltutski also regularly exchanged e-mails with the courier A.S., in which they discussed purchases of military equipment. A.S. was a diplomatic courier working for the government of Belarus and using diplomatic mail for illegal exports of military equipment, which were delivered for him to New York by Jahor Jasin and other members of the group”, - the court’s memorandum states.

Baltutski acknowledged his guilt on three counts on 25 January 2013. According to the report on the defendant’s personality and life conditions, submitted to the court before the verdict, Baltutski faces from 108 to 135 months of imprisonment. However, considering the serious character and the scale of Baltutski’s criminal activities, the US government recommends the court to apply a higher punishment threshold to the defendant up to 188 months in prison.

Photo: AP