BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/06/2009

Belarus Pardons Jailed US Lawyer Zeltser - Official

MINSK, Belarus (AFP)--Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday pardoned U.S. lawyer Emanuel Zeltser, jailed for industrial espionage in a case that raised tensions with Washington, a presidential spokesman said.

"The president has signed a decree pardoning Zeltser," spokesman Pavel Lyogky told AFP.

A Russian-born U.S. citizen, Zeltser was arrested on landing at Minsk airport in March last year and in August was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of industrial espionage and using forged documents.

Earlier in June he went on hunger strike to protest his situation, a move his lawyers feared could worsen his already poor health.

A visiting U.S. Congressional delegation had earlier said following talks with Lukashenko they expected Zeltser to be released as early as Tuesday evening.

Source:

http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/update-belarus-pardons-jailed-us-lawyer-zeltser-official-694082

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