Mark Zeltser: Boris Berezovsky visited Belarusian KGB prison
- 26.08.2008, 11:45
As said by Mark Zeltser, his brother US national Emanuel Zeltser was visited in KGB prison by Boris Berezovsky, a self-exiled oligarch wanted by Russia’s prosecutor’s office.
Radio Svaboda was informed about the visit of Boris Berezovsky to Minsk, and his visiting Emanuel Zeltser the KGB prison by Mark Zeltser, Emanuel’s brother who lives in New York. Emanuel Zeltser had been sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment for commercial espionage.
As said by Mark Zeltser, it was the second visit of the Russian oligarch to Minsk in this August. First time Boris Berezovsky arrived to Minsk on August 3, as said by Mark Zeltser. In two days Berezovsky witnessed in Emanuel Zeltser’s case. The second visit took place on August 15, Mark Zeltser said, giving details of the visit.
“10 days ago Berezovsky visited him in prison. Personally. He demanded my brother to withhold all his evidence and renounce his statement in the court, admit guilt and dismiss lawyer Harachka. “I am the real master of this country,” he allegedly said to Emanuel Zeltser, as stated by mark Zeltser. Berezovsky added: “This three-year term received by you is not enough for me. If you won’t withhold evidence, your term will be longer, and the situation will be worse for you”.
The information about the visit of Boris Berezovsky to Minsk has been allegedly received by mark Zeltser from the US Department of State. As said by Mark Zeltser, there is documentary evidence that the Russian self-exiled businessman visited Minsk.
“He arrived in his plane, the number of the plane and other details are known. We told about that to the Russian Ambassador in Belarus, the Russian Ambassador to the US. He travels when he wants,” Mark Zeltser stated.
As we have informed, Berezovsky had been served several charges, he is wanted by the Prosecutor’s office. The Russian authorities demand the Great Britain to deliver Boris Berezovsky, where he had been given political asylum. According to the agreement between Russia and Belarus on delivering criminals and suspects, Belarus is obliged to detain such persons at its territory and to Russia.
The head of the press-service of the Internal Affairs Ministry Aleh Slepchanka: “I do not have information that Boris Berezovsky was in Minsk. I do not know that he was searched here either”.
Meanwhile, as said by Mark Zeltser, he told the Prosecutor’s office, the KGB, Internal Affairs Minister and the Presidential Administration of Belarus about the arrival of Boris Berezovsky “on the same day”.
Last week Emanuel Zeltser was visited in prison by United States consul Caroline Savage. “He said he feels intense pain. We continue to follow the situation and express our great concern,” the diplomat said. To the question weather E. Zeltser had been visited by B. Berezovsky in the KGB prison, Caroline Savage answered: “Unfortunately, I do not have information about that for you”.