Cassation appeal against Zeltser’s sentence is to be considered at a close court session

The cassation appeal against the sentence passed by the Minsk Municipal court to US citizen Emmanouil Zeltser is to be considered at a close court session, as a Supreme Court representative told “Interfax-West” news agency.

“The cassation appeal against Zeltser’s sentence will be considered on September 26 in the Supreme Court at a close court session”, the official said.

Moreover, on September 26 the Supreme Court will consider the appeal for alteration of Zelter’s sentence induced by the demise of his mother who resided in the USA. Emmanouil Zeltser and his secretary, Russian citizen Vladlena Funk were detained in the National Airport Minsk on March 12. The process was held from July 30 till August 11 at a close court session. Zeltser was sentenced to 3 and Funk – to 1 year in prison for fake documents and attempts of commercial espionage.

The US citizen is also accused of drug smuggling but this accusation was lifted as the court regarded the drugs to be medicaments that Zeltser has been using for the last 15 years. The US officials have been insisting on exoneration of the accused as the health of the latter has deteriorated significantly since he couldn’t take the prescribed medicines while arrested. Guards had to carry Zeltser up to the 3rd floor where the process was held since the accused could not walk.