US diplomats visit imprisoned lawyer Zeltser

• 20.11.2008, 16:19

Representatives of the US embassy in Minsk visited on Wednesday imprisoned American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser who was put in the medical unit of the number 15 correctional institution right upon his arrival at the prison to serve his time.

The diplomats met with a medical specialist who treats Mr. Zeltser, with the doctor saying that the prisoner had high blood pressure but his overall condition was satisfactory, said the press office of the US embassy.

They passed medications for the 54-year-old Zeltser who suffers a very ill health.

Mr. Zeltser told the diplomats that he suffered from an extremely high blood pressure and constant pains and had no regular access to medications.

The press office said that Washington is continuing calling for the release of Mr. Zeltser on humanitarian grounds.

On August 11, Mr. Zeltser was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of "attempted industrial espionage" and the use of fake documents. His secretary, Russian national Vladlena Funk, was sentenced to one year in prison on the same charges. The Minsk City Court held the trial behind closed doors and few details of the case were disclosed to the public.

The pair were arrested upon their arrival in Minsk in March and put into the KGB detention center.

The Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the prison terms on October 31. //BelaPAN