US Citizen Zeltser got into prison hospital: he has broken down during transit
- 17.11.2008, 11:37
The US citizen Emanuel Zeltser was transported from Minsk to Mahilyou colony No. 15 and immediately put in hospital.
Radio Svaboda has been informed about that by lawyer Zmitser Harachka, who visited Zeltser in the hospital and could speak with him for half an hour.
“His pressure rose, he was given an intravenous drip. He feels bad, he is in the hospital. When saw in Mahilyou he feels bad, he was put in hospital immediately. He is not given any drugs yet, as he didn’t have ones with him. It was agreed that he would make a list of necessary drugs, and I will try to bring them on Monday,” the lawyer said.
During the transportation from Minsk to Mahilyou, Emanuel Zeltser told to his lawyer shortly: “It was very hard”.
What conditions are expecting Zeltser in the colony No.15? It is known that this colony is intended both to habitual offenders and to first time offenders.
As said by Zmitser Harachka, his client still believes that he wouldn’t have to serve the whole term in Mahilyou colony.
“As he hadn’t committed a crime, he hopes for being released. Other situation cannot happen he believes. And if does not matter for him what kind of release it would be, he says. To my mind, acquittance is unlikely, we could hope for grant of pardon,” the lawyer says.
On November 15 Zeltser’s secretary Vladlena Funk was transferred from Minsk remand prison to a colony. She had been sentenced to a year of imprisonment. She is to serve the term in the colony No.4 of Homel.
Emanuel Zeltser and his secretary, Russian citizen Vladlena Funk were detained at the National Airport Minsk on March 12. There are reports Russian exile oligarch Boris Berezovsky is involved in this case. When Georgian billionaire 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 was represented by Mr. Zeltser.
The US unsuccessfully seeks for Mr Zeltser's release on humanitarian grounds.
