Belarusian sprinter Kristina Chimanowskaya, who was dragged out of the Olympic Village after criticizing the national team officials on her social media and forced to repatriate, is seeking asylum in Poland.
Yesterday (2nd), Chimanousskaya, who was scheduled to participate in the Olympic 200m qualifier, criticized the Belarusian national team officials, saying that she had to go to the 1600m relay, which had no experience on social media.
After being forced to repatriate, Chimanouskaya asked the Japanese police for help at Haneda Airport.
She is being protected by the Polish embassy in Tokyo, which has offered asylum with the help of the Japanese police and the International Olympic Committee.
Schimanowskaya said that she would be arrested if she returned, and that she would seek asylum in a European country, and the Polish government issued a visa.
After the election of President Lukashenko in August of last year, Chimanowskaya signed a public petition calling for re-election and the release of political prisoners during mass protests against election fraud.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement that it was "investigating the situation and has requested an explanation from the Belarusian Olympic Committee."
The Belarus Olympic Committee is headed by authoritarian President Alessandro Lukashenko and his son for more than 25 years.
(Photo = Getty Images Korea)