BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

19/05/2008

US urges humanitarian release for ailing American prisoner held two months in Belarus

WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States is urging Belarus' government to grant a U.S. plea for the release on humanitarian grounds of an ailing U.S. citizen jailed two months ago on charges of using false documents.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says U.S. consular officials have been allowed to see Emanuel Zeltser only twice.

McCormack says that during the second visit, three weeks ago, the 54-year-old prisoner's health had deteriorated significantly, and Zeltser was being denied needed medications.

McCormack said Monday that the State Department has received no answer to the humanitarian release request and urged a quick and favorable response.

Russian-born Zeltser heads a nongovernmental organization, the Russian-American Law Institute.

Source:

http://www.pr-inside.com/us-urges-humanitarian-release-for-ailing-r597278.htm

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