Both were drugged and secretly rendered across international borders to Belarus[6] aboard a private jet belonging to Boris Berezovsky, a notorious Russian "oligarch" and close friend of the Belarusian president Alyaksandar Lukashenka.
[7] Upon landing in Minsk, Belarus, Zeltser and Funk were detained by the personal guard of Lukashenka, the Belarusian president, whose election was not considered free and fair by the U.S. Department of State.
There both were repeatedly tortured, denied critical medications, and told that they would remain in captivity indefinitely unless the United States lifted sanctions against Lukashenka and Belneftekhim.
Zeltser's and Funk's seizure, torture and unlawful detention sparked international outrage and significant press coverage, apparently unexpected by the Belarusian authorities.
[16] A strongly worded letter from the New York City Bar Association to Lukashenko condemned KGB abuse of Zeltser and Funk and demanded their immediate release.
[18] U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Belarus Jonathan M. Moore commented: "At no time have the Belarusian authorities ever provided any indication that the charges against Mr. Zeltser and Ms. Funk were legitimate.
Appearing on Russian TV network NTV, Anatoly Lebedko, Chairman of the Belarusian United Popular Party said: "Washington was forced to pay ransom for its citizen by providing Lukashenka the IMF credits, pure and simple; in essence, this is hostage-taking, the practice, which is wide-spread in Belarus elevated to the new level, where Lukashenka is not only sending a political message but demands monetary compensation for human freedom.