Trial of American lawyer, his secretary to continue on Thursday

• 30.07.2008, 12:31

The trial of American lawyer Emanuel Zeltser and his secretary Vladlena Funk, who have been held in custody in Minsk since this past March, will continue on July 31.

The hearing began at the Minsk City Court behind closed doors on July 30. Neither relatives nor American diplomats were allowed to attend the trial.

Mr. Zeltser could face up to seven years in prison and Ms. Funk up to three years in prison.

The pair's defense counsel, Dzmitry Harachka, told BelaPAN that he was "fully satisfied" with how the trial had begun.

When asked about the spirit of his clients, he said that it was psychologically difficult for Mr. Zeltser, a professional lawyer, to be on the dock.

He said that the medical condition of Mr. Zeltser was "stable," but he had difficulty in walking.

Mr. Zeltser and Ms. Funk are facing charges of business espionage and the use of fake documents. The man also is to answer a charge of smuggling illegal drugs into Belarus.

The pair deny their guilt.

Mr. Zeltser and his secretary were charged with using fake documents when they were arrested upon their arrival in Minsk on March 12.

In May, Mr. Zeltser was charged with drug smuggling over medications that he brought into Belarus.

Mark Zeltser, the brother of the American lawyer, claims that self-exiled Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky orchestrated the arrest of Mr. Zeltser over the assets of the late Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili. When Mr. Patarkatsishvili died, his assets became the subject of a dispute pitting the widow backed by Mr. Berezovsky, against his step cousin, Joseph Kay, who is represented by Mr. Zeltser.

In May, the Tbilisi City Court in Georgia recognized Joseph Kay as a legitimate executor of the late Georgian billionaire’s assets.