American prisoner Emanuel Zeltser released from Belarusian custody
American citizen Emanuel Zeltser was released from Belarusian custody on June 30.
"The United States welcomes this positive step, said Ian Kelly, Department of State spokesman on Tuesday. Consular officials in the Department and Embassy Minsk are currently working with Mr. Zeltser’s family to arrange his swift and safe return to the United States."
According to a press release of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, Zeltzer was released at the urging of U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and a seven-member Congressional delegation in Minsk today. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka signed official documents releasing Zeltser.
Zeltser, a Russian-born U.S. citizen, expert on the Russian organized crime and money laundering, was arrested on landing at Minsk airport in March 2008, and in August he was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of industrial espionage and using forged documents. The U.S. raised concerns about Zeltser's health and asked for his release on humanitarian grounds, an appeal Belarus that was initially rejected.
Supporters of Zeltser have alleged his arrest was related to his work on the disputed inheritance of Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, who died in London in February 2008. At the time of his arrest, Zeltser was representing Joseph Kay, a relative of Patarkatsishvili who claims to be the billionaire's heir.
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