1 July 2009
Washington welcomes Emanuel Zeltser’s release

The United States welcomes the release of American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser from Belarus’ prison, said Ian Kelly, spokesman for the US Department of State, said in a statement.

Mr. Zeltser who was imprisoned in murky circumstances in Bealrus last year was freed from Mahilyow’s prison on the evening of June 30 after being pardoned by Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

"We welcome this news," the AFP quoted Mr. Kelly as telling reporters in Washington.

But Mr. Kelly said: "We still have other concerns of course with some of the actions of the Belarusian government."

He added that Washington was still reviewing policy toward Belarus.

Mr. Lukashenka signed the presidential edict pardoning the ailing lawyer on June 30 after meeting with a visiting delegation of senior US lawmakers.

“I never thought that this person could become an issue in relations between our states,” the Belarusian leader’s press office quoted him as telling the US lawmakers. “It is true that I may pardon Emanuel Zeltser in accordance with Belarusian laws and the constitution. You have requested me to do this, haven’t you? If it is very important to America and our relations and may contribute to the normalization of our relations, I’ll sign the edict today.”

“We welcome the release of Emanuel Zeltser on humanitarian grounds,” US Senator Benjamin L. Cardin who met with Mr. Lukashenka on Tuesday said in a statement. “However, we made it clear to President Lukashenka today that the only way to improve the relationship between our countries is for him to increase political freedom and respect for human rights. Belarus should make progress on the conditions laid out in the Belarus Democracy Act if the country is to see any changes in US sanctions here.”

Mr. Zeltser’s defense counsel had repeatedly said that his client had been fully eligible for release under this year’s amnesty law.

The Belarusian authorities, however, delayed a decision on his release. The 55-year-old Zeltser went on hunger strike on June 7 in protest against the foot-dragging. He suspended the strike some 20 days later.

In August 2008, Mr. Zeltser was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of "attempted industrial espionage" and the use of fake documents. His secretary, Russian citizen Vladlena Funk, was sentenced to one year in prison on the same charges. The Minsk City Court held the trial behind closed doors and no details of the case were disclosed to the public.

The pair were arrested upon their arrival in Minsk in March 2008. Ms. Funk was released from a Homyel correctional institution on March 12 after fully serving her sentence. She left Belarus after being held in a local detention center for more than a week. //BelaPAN