Emanuel Zeltser is free. The U.S. lawyer was released from a Mogilev prison soon after the Belarusian president granted him an amnesty. The American citizen had been held in a prison on far-fetched charges of “using false official documents” and “attempted economic espionage.” His case was heard in a closed judicial proceeding. The U.S. Embassy in Minsk criticized the proceedings, noting that it was denied the opportunity to observe the trial. The State Department repeatedly called for Mr. Zeltser’s release on humanitarian grounds.

The Belarusian regime resisted. It resisted until normalization of relations with the West has become a major factor to save the tormented Belarusian economy battered by the crisis and tensions with Russia. Shamefully, Zeltser’s incarceration was sort of a joker card the Belarusian president kept in his pocket knowing he can use it when necessary. The situation required, so he used it. I am wondering how different this is from what terrorists do when they kidnap Americans or Europeans for ransom. Zeltser case is just another sad indication that the Belarusian court system serves political needs of the ruler.

Yet, I agree with Melyantsov (Belarusian political expert, BISS) that the United States should use the release of Zeltser as a starting point to normalize relations with Minsk. The more Lukashenko’s government opens up to the West, the sooner it crumbles.