SAVE EMANUEL ZELTSER
Panel: Oxana Adler, Emanuel Zeltser's Associate, American-Russian Law Institute
Peter Shacker, MD
Mark Zeltser, Emanuel's brother
Mark Zeltser’s Opening Statement at the International Press Conference in
Washington, DC on April 2, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press:
The greatest single achievement of civilization and democracy is the right to due process of law. Last Friday a civil law suit has been filed in the Southern District of New York by the widow of the late Georgian businessman, Badri Patarkatsishvili, Gudavadze family against Emanuel Zeltser and Joseph Kay. I know that my brother Emanuel would welcome it as much as I do. It is where the disputes belong--in a court of law, a court of law Emanuel has being denied by the Belarusian KGB. Upon information and belief, Emanuel’s arrest in Belarus was orchestrated by Boris Berezovsky, a fugitive from international justice, a man wanted on embezzlement charges in many countries, to deny Emanuel the right to due process of law and prevent him from proving the authenticity of the documents executed by Badri Patarkatsishvili to protect his family from what he rightly perceived as an asset grab by Berezovsky.
From Emanuel’s arrest Berezovsky has the most to gain. His motive and intent were clearly evidenced when he flew Emanuel to Belarus, yet to be determined if Emanuel boarded Berezovsky's private jet voluntarily. The last conversation I had with Emanuel, Belarus was not on his itinerary. Emanuel and his secretary were checking flights from London to Miami. Berezovsky alleged he threw Joseph Kay and Emanuel out of his office accusing them of fraud. It defies logic that Emanuel would have accepted the use of Berezovsky's private jet voluntarily under those circumstances. It also defies logic that Berezovsky would offer his jet to the crooks, unless he was absolutely sure the KGB agents were awaiting them at the Minsk airport. I cannot rule out that Emanuel and his secretary did not board Berezovsky’s private jet on their free will until such time when Emanuel can speak freely and is accorded his basic right to due process of law. Same due process of law that was accorded to Berezovsky by the UK, otherwise Berezovsky would have his day in the Russian court for the egregious crimes against his Motherland.
I, therefore, cannot rule out as entrapment Berezovsky’s action to prevent Emanuel from his right to due process to defend himself in a lawsuit against him and to defend the responsibility he was delegated by Badri Patakatsishvili, his client of fourteen years.
It is a fact (actually confirmed in the civil lawsuit) that Michelle Duncan, both Berezovsky’s and Gudavadze’s lawyer, wrote to the Belarus Prosecutor General on March 3, that Emanuel Zeltser and Joseph Kay may arrive in Minsk with forged documents. A few days later, Emanuel was arrested as he descended from the plane and charged exactly with that: Use of Forged Documents. I contacted Ms. Duncan, but got no response (you can find a copy of my communication on this table).
Thus, it all looks like a perfect conspiracy and a setup: to fly Emanuel to Belarus, to arrange his lock up indefinitely, and then start a lawsuit against him, knowing he cannot defend himself, produce the truth and the authentic documents and represent the interests of Mr. Patarkatsishvili, his client of 14 years.
Would Ms. Gudavadze ever sue Emanuel Zeltser in a country with the established system of justice if he was NOT incarcerated in a country with no justice at all? I sincerely doubt it.
In view of the above, we pursue the possibility of filing both criminal and civil charges in the US and in the UK against Boris Berezovsky for entrapment, kidnapping and hostage taking of Emanuel Zeltser this coming week.
It is totally inconceivable that the next day after Emanuel’s arrest, Lord Bell (whose client is Boris Berezovsky), meets with the Belarusian dictator Lukashenka to assume the charge of cleaning the image of Belarus. I wrote a few letters to Lord Bell (copies available), no reply so far.
Berezovsky claims 50% of the Badri Patarkatsishvili’s wealth. The essential difference is that, unlike Berezovsky, there is no monetary gain on the part of Joseph Kay and Emanuel Zeltser. There is but to HONOR Mr. Patarkatsishvili's request. Joseph Kay and Emanuel Zeltser pose a real threat to Berezovsky, but NOT to Mr. Patarkatsishvili’s widow, Inna Gudavadze, whom Kay and Zeltser are actually protecting in accordance with Patarkatsishvili’s wishes. This is NOT an asset grab on the part of Joseph Kay, much less Emanuel.
On behalf of my brother, Emanuel Zeltser I welcome any and all court actions where they belong – in the court of law – not in a KGB lockup in Belarus where due process is an oxymoron. The point of this conference is to help obtain the release of Emanuel, so that the greatest achievement of humanity – right to due process of law can and will move forward and prevail.