BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/05/2008

Belarus KGB found drugs in US lawyer's accusation case, they started with forged documents

The Belarus State Security Committee (KGB) brought a criminal case on drug trafficking against US citizen Emanuel Zeltser, who is in the KGB remand prison in Minsk now, online site Khartiya'97 and news agency Interfax are reporting, referring to the Belarus KGB sources.

"A criminal case on part 2 of article 228 (drug trafficking) and part 1 of article 328 (trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors) of the Criminal Code of Belarus was instigated against Zeltser," the KGB source is cited. It is said that the case against the US citizen was submitted to court.

"Over 100 tablets, containing drugs and psychotropic substances, were seized from Zeltser," Valery Nadtochayev, the Belarus KGB spokesman stated.

Emanuel Zeltser was detained by KGB officers in Minsk on 12 March. He was accused of committing a crime, provided for in part 2 of article 380 (of article 380 (using of consciously forged official intrusting documents by a group of people) of the Criminal Code of Belarus.

The US Department of State urges the Belarusian authorities to release the US lawyer immediately. The US administration said the health of Emanuel Zeltser had deteriorated in the KGB remand prison. According to the United States consul, Caroline Savage, who met with the arrested in Minsk on April 25, Zeltser told her he "had been beaten on the second and third day of the detention." The lawyer lost in weight, had difficulty walking and talking.

The US consul sent a report to Washington, after that the US Charge d'Affaires in Belarus Jonathan Moore was invited to the Department of State, Khartiya'97 adds.

Source:

http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1562

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