The most scandalous and most secret trial of the late period is over in Byelorussia. The American lawyer Immanuel Seltzer has been sentenced to three years by the Minsk court for “collecting the information of commercial character and for using the forged documents”. The lawyer’s secretary, Russian citizen Vladlena Funk is found guilty on same counts and is sentenced to one year in a minimum security colony.  

Immanuel Seltzer arrived in Minsk on 12 March in a capacity of lawyer for Josef Kay, the step-brother of the Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili. After his death Josef Kay claimed to be the testament manager. Badri’s widow, Inna Gudavadze, and Boris Berezovsky disputed the right by Josef Kay for disposal of the estate of the deceased billionaire. Seltzer seems to have been designated a part of a soldier to die in the very first action.      

Right after the arrest made on 12 March the Seltzer’s case was announced to be a state secret and the court was taken in camera. According to the lawyer Dmitry Goryachko, the charges brought against his defendants, do not require a closed trial. During the investigation and court proceedings period the lawyer only could give comments on the health condition of Immanuel Seltzer. “He says it is hard for him to go up the staircase in the court’s building and the convoy have to bring him to the fourth floor in their arms”.      

All the rest, including the information about statement by Berezovsky, is just rumors originated due to the mystery.  

Immanuel Seltzer’s brother, Mark, affirms that on 5 August Boris Berezovsky came to Minsk with Yuly Dubov to state the evidence. Mr. Berezovsky himself answers to all questions “I do not comment on my traveling”. 

American diplomats do not know either the details of the court proceedings, as they were not allowed to be present there. “We don’t know what he is charged with. We cannot watch his health condition” said the head of the diplomatic mission Jonathan Moor, after the trial began. After the sentence was delivered, he said that the US embassy cannot be sure whether the court procedure has met the international legal standards. An official comment by the US embassy said that the workers of consular service had not had opportunity to see Mr. Seltzer during last two months, despite the fact the embassy is still trying to obtain permission to see him.

The lawyer Dmitry Goryachko will be appealing the sentence in the Byelorussian Supreme Court. However, he has no illusions about the outcome. “This sentence is equal to execution” he said after the trial. That was spoken about the health condition and was spoken within the limits of engagement to secrecy.