Belarus: President Pardons <PERSON> · Global Voices
On June 30, a U.S. Congress delegation visited Minsk. The Congressmen had a meeting with Belarusian president <PERSON>. During this meeting, members of the U.S. delegation asked the president to pardon <PERSON>, an American lawyer who, in August 2008, was “sentenced to three years in prison on charges of ‘attempted industrial espionage’ and the use of fake documents.” <PERSON> said he could do it and signed the pardon later that day.
<PERSON> of The Being Had Times re-posted a BelTA article about the U.S. delegation's visit on his blog and here is a quote from it:
[…] During the meeting members of the US delegation addressed the President of Belarus with a request to use powers of the head of state to free US citizen <PERSON>, who had been serving his sentence in Belarus for committing a criminal offence.
<PERSON> emphasised that the US citizen had violated Belarusian laws. “He was arrested in our country and sentenced in accordance with Belarusian laws. Even US Charge d’Affaires a.i. in Belarus <PERSON> does not deny it. 289
I have never thought that this man could become an issue in relations between our countries. Yes, according to Belarusian laws, according to the Constitution I can grant a pardon to <PERSON>. You have asked this of me, right? If it is very important for America and our relations and contributes to normalising our relations, I will sign the pardon today,” said the head of state. […]
On Wednesday, at 5:30 a.m., <PERSON> flew back to the United States.
Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (LJ user radio_svaboda) invited bloggers to ask <PERSON> some questions via the by_politics LJ community [BEL]. Only a few bloggers have responded so far, and LJ user <PERSON> was the first one to [RUS]. Below are three of the six questions that he asked:
1. Is it true that you were arrested right after the negotiations at the Presidential Administration?
[…]
3. Would you seek material compensation from our country?
[…]
6. As far as we know, you were released following a pardon decree. Does it mean that all charges against you have been removed? If yes, do you plan to continue working on inheritance cases in Belarus?
So far, <PERSON> has not replied to LJ user <PERSON> and a few other Belarusian bloggers who are attempting to interact with him via an LJ community focused on Belarusian politics. 289