US diplomat to hold talks in Minsk over Zeltser
A representative of the US Department of State will today hold talks with Belarusian officials in Minsk over the case of Emmanuel Zeltser who was sentenced to three years in prison last year.
According to Valentin Rybakov, a Belarus president's aide in charge of the foreign policy, "legal matters" would be discussed during the visit of the American official. The US Embassy in Minsk told Belapan that the representative of the State Department was invited by the Belarusian government.
Zeltser was arrested in March 2008 at the Minsk airport together with his secretary Vladlena Funk, a Russian national. In August, Zeltser was found guilty of document forgery and commercial spying. The US government numerously called on the Belarusian authorities to free Zeltser, because his health seriously deteriorated.
According to Valentin Rybakov, a Belarus president's aide in charge of the foreign policy, "legal matters" would be discussed during the visit of the American official. The US Embassy in Minsk told Belapan that the representative of the State Department was invited by the Belarusian government.
Zeltser was arrested in March 2008 at the Minsk airport together with his secretary Vladlena Funk, a Russian national. In August, Zeltser was found guilty of document forgery and commercial spying. The US government numerously called on the Belarusian authorities to free Zeltser, because his health seriously deteriorated.
