US lawyer Zeltser brutalised in KGB jail

Lawyers say that American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser in kept in severe and harsh conditions in the Belarusian KGB detention facility.

According to the norms of the Council of Europe of 2001, convicted in Minsk US lawyer Emanuel Zeltser is political prisoner. A statement, spread by the American Russian Law Institute (ARLI) among international human rights organisations on October 27, says it.

ARLI notes that E. Zeltser was detained on politically motivated grounds having no relation to any violations. He had an unjust trial behind the closed doors. Besides, the institute reports that prisoner Zeltser suffers from discriminatory treatment: he is denied the required medicines and has no access to medical care, BelaPAN reports.

Lawyers also mention that prison conditions for the US citizen are severe and harsh. “On October 24, prison guards took away Zeltser’s mattress because he refused to sign a document for the prison administration,” the statement says.

ARLI urges the governments of the US and other countries, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international organisations not to consider lifting of sanctions on Belarus until E. Zeltser is released.

On October 31, the Supreme Court is to hear a cassation appeal on innocence of the ARLI’s head, US lawyer E. Zeltser and his secretary, Russian citizen Vladlena Funk. Lawyer Zmitser Harachka told to BelaPAN that he saw no reasons for another delay of the trial. On September 26, it was delayed without notice. The lawyer expressed a hope that his clients would be found non guilty.

Z. Harachka also said about permission of the Supreme Court for another visit of an independent US doctor to Minsk. However, Zeltser said he had nothing against examination, but saw no sense in physician’s visit, because recommendation of a previous doctor hadn’t been taken into consideration.

E. Zeltser was last visited by US diplomats on October 20. According to them, he complained at increased pains and cold in the cell.

E. Zeltser and V. Funk were detained at Minsk National Airport on March 12. On August 11, Zeltser was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of attempted industrial espionage and the use of fake documents. V. Funk was sentenced to one year in prison on the same charges. The both say they are not guilty.

The US citizen was also charged with smuggling drugs, but the court found that medicines taken by Zeltser for the last 15 years were not illegal drugs.

The authorities of the US call necessary medical care to be one of the key requirements for improving US-Belarus relations and seek his release on humanitarian grounds, as his health has deteriorated greatly in prison. The head of the US Helsinki Commission addressed the chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly asking to take part in releasing of the American citizen.

In August, the US embassy gave all necessary medications to the Belarusian authorities, but Zeltser didn’t receive them.