Lukashenka accused of conspiring with Berezovsky
1- 11.08.2008, 17:17
The American-Russian Law Institute (Arli), a non-governmental organization promoting legal reform in Russia, has accused "certain Belarusian officials" of being 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.
Mr. Berezovsky arrived in Belarus on his own plane, Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, on which Mr. Zeltser landed in Minsk on March 12, the Arli said.
He testified together with another Russian national, Yuly Dubov, who is also wanted by Russia, it said.
Mark Zeltser, brother of the American lawyer, also claims that the Russian businessman took part in the trial.
The Arli sent copies of the statement to the Russian prime minister and foreign minister, as well as to a number of top Belarusian officials, including the prosecutor general, the head of the Presidential Administration, and the chair of the Committee for State Security.
The Arli said that Mr. Berezovsky was convicted on six criminal charges in absentia and is wanted by police across the world.
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. His secretary, Russian national Vladlena Funk, who accompanied him on his visit to Minsk was sentenced to one year in prison on the same charges.
There are reports that the pair were arrested over the assets of the late Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili. When Mr. Patarkatsishvili died, his assets became the subject of a dispute pitting the widow backed by Mr. Berezovsky, against his step cousin, Joseph Kay, who was represented by Mr. Zeltser.
On May 14, the Tbilisi City Court in Georgia recognized Joseph Kay as a legitimate executor of the late Georgian billionaire’s assets.
Mr. Berezovsky, who has political asylum in Britain, told media earlier that he gave his plane to Mr. Zeltser to fly to Minsk, and he met with Belarusian investigators in London. He denied that he orchestrated the arrest of Mr. Zeltser.
