30.06.2009 17:53 MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree on pardoning Emanuel Zeltser, the press service of the head of state told BelTA after Alexander Lukashenko's meeting with a delegation of the US Congress. During the meeting members of the US delegation addressed the President of Belarus with a request to use powers of the head of state to free US citizen Emanuel Zeltser, who had been serving his sentence in Belarus for committing a criminal offence. Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that the US citizen had violated Belarusian laws. "He was arrested in our country and sentenced in accordance with Belarusian laws. Even US Charge d'Affaires a.i. in Belarus Jonathan Moore does not deny it. I have never thought that this man could become an issue in relations between our countries. Yes, according to Belarusian laws, according to the Constitution I can grant a pardon to Emanuel Zeltser. You have asked this of me, right? If it is very important for America and our relations and contributes to normalising our relations, I will sign the pardon today," said the head of state.
MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree on pardoning Emanuel Zeltser, the press service of the head of state told BelTA after Alexander Lukashenko's meeting with a delegation of the US Congress.
During the meeting members of the US delegation addressed the President of Belarus with a request to use powers of the head of state to free US citizen Emanuel Zeltser, who had been serving his sentence in Belarus for committing a criminal offence.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that the US citizen had violated Belarusian laws. "He was arrested in our country and sentenced in accordance with Belarusian laws. Even US Charge d'Affaires a.i. in Belarus Jonathan Moore does not deny it. I have never thought that this man could become an issue in relations between our countries. Yes, according to Belarusian laws, according to the Constitution I can grant a pardon to Emanuel Zeltser. You have asked this of me, right? If it is very important for America and our relations and contributes to normalising our relations, I will sign the pardon today," said the head of state.
Lukashenko makes it clear that this has nothing to do with the recent amnesty passed by the Belarusian parliament. It is an ad hoc pardon in coincidence with the arrival of the U.S. congressional delegation.
30.06.2009 18:30 MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) - US congressmen pointed out the progress in Belarus-US dialogue while on a visit to Belarus, BelTA has learnt. "We have held an open and cordial discussion with the President of Belarus," said Senator Benjamin Cardin, Chairman of the US Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He underlined that all members of the delegation believe that the pardon granted by the President of Belarus to US citizen Emanuel Zeltser is a very positive step. Meanwhile, the congressmen pointed out incomplete compliance of the Belarusian political system with OSCE principles and standards. Congressman Christopher Smith said that the US Congress' Belarus Democracy Act will remain a fundamental document which principles should be taken into account by Belarusian authorities. "It is necessary to concentrate efforts not only on developing the dialogue with the West but also on carrying out systematic reforms in compliance with OSCE standards," he added.
MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) - US congressmen pointed out the progress in Belarus-US dialogue while on a visit to Belarus, BelTA has learnt.
"We have held an open and cordial discussion with the President of Belarus," said Senator Benjamin Cardin, Chairman of the US Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He underlined that all members of the delegation believe that the pardon granted by the President of Belarus to US citizen Emanuel Zeltser is a very positive step.
Meanwhile, the congressmen pointed out incomplete compliance of the Belarusian political system with OSCE principles and standards. Congressman Christopher Smith said that the US Congress' Belarus Democracy Act will remain a fundamental document which principles should be taken into account by Belarusian authorities. "It is necessary to concentrate efforts not only on developing the dialogue with the West but also on carrying out systematic reforms in compliance with OSCE standards," he added.
The Belarusian government has announced a presidential pardon for Emmanuel Zeltser, a Russian-born U.S. lawyer imprisoned for nearly a year on espionage charges. [...] Speaking at the State Department, spokesman Ian Kelly said, "We understand that President Lukashenka has signed a presidential decree pardoning Mr. Zeltser. As you know, the [State] Department and also our embassy in Minsk have always advocated for Mr. Zeltser's release on humanitarian grounds, and we welcome this news, and are glad that his release appears imminent."
[...]
Speaking at the State Department, spokesman Ian Kelly said, "We understand that President Lukashenka has signed a presidential decree pardoning Mr. Zeltser. As you know, the [State] Department and also our embassy in Minsk have always advocated for Mr. Zeltser's release on humanitarian grounds, and we welcome this news, and are glad that his release appears imminent."
Zeltser, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is a lawyer who is said to have a vast knowledge of organized crime, particularly the practice of money laundering. One of his clients was the late Badri Patarkatsishvili, a wealthy Georgian who opposes Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
For background on Mr. Zeltser's familiarity with organized crime and money laundering, check out David Habakkuk's recent diary here A falling out of thieves? and Bob Drogin's recent LA Times article From a Belarus prison, U.S. lawyer's last battle.
He was given a three-year prison sentence on industrial espionage charges that his associates say were politically motivated.
From the Save Emanuel Zeltser site, "...Mr. Zeltser was convicted, in a closed secret trial, for attempted commercial espionage and for knowingly using false official documents."
There's a difference between commercial and industrial espionage. As for "false official documents" we're sure Mr. Zeltser will be happy to turn over the real documents in the NY Southern District Court.
Ordering Zeltser's release wasn't the first concession that Lukashenka has offered the United States. He's also ordered the release of people that the United States says are political prisoners. On Tuesday, Lukashenka told the congressional delegation that his government is "ready to return to a discussion on a complete restoration of a mutual diplomatic presence on condition that economic sanctions against our country be lifted in full." In Washington, Kelly, the State Department spokesman, said Lukashenka will have to do more than release Zeltser to see a normalization of relations with the United States. "This was a major obstacle in our bilateral relations," he said. "We still have other concerns, of course, with some of the actions of the Belarusian government. So we're very happy that this one obstacle has been removed, and we'll review our policies as necessary."
On Tuesday, Lukashenka told the congressional delegation that his government is "ready to return to a discussion on a complete restoration of a mutual diplomatic presence on condition that economic sanctions against our country be lifted in full."
In Washington, Kelly, the State Department spokesman, said Lukashenka will have to do more than release Zeltser to see a normalization of relations with the United States.
"This was a major obstacle in our bilateral relations," he said. "We still have other concerns, of course, with some of the actions of the Belarusian government. So we're very happy that this one obstacle has been removed, and we'll review our policies as necessary."
