Tokyo (AFP)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday that it would launch an investigation after a Belarusian sprinter engaged in the Olympics accused her team of wanting to repatriate her by force, leading her to take refuge at the Polish embassy in Tokyo .

The IOC said it was waiting for a report from the Belarusian Olympic Committee, according to Mark Adams, a spokesperson for this organization who wants to "hear all the stakeholders" to establish the facts.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya did not speak to the media, still stationed in front of the embassy.

She could fly to Poland on Wednesday, from which she obtained a humanitarian visa on Monday.

His case continues to spark international reactions condemning Belarus, a former Soviet republic ruled with an iron fist by President Alexander Lukashenko since 1994 and whose son heads the National Olympic Committee.

"The Lukashenko regime attempted to commit a new act of transnational repression (...). Such actions violate the Olympic spirit, are an affront to fundamental rights and cannot be tolerated," reacted on Twitter the secretary of US State Antony Blinken.

The Polish Ambassador to Japan Pawel Milewski leaving the diplomatic precinct after his meeting with Belarusian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, August 3, 2021 Yuki IWAMURA AFP

The pro-democracy movement in Belarus, which had become massive a year ago to denounce the controversial re-election of the head of state, is severely repressed by the authorities.

Thousands of opponents have been arrested or had to go into exile.

Vitali Chychov, a Belarusian pro-democracy activist exiled in Ukraine, was also found hanged near his home in Kiev, local police said Tuesday, according to which it could be either a suicide or a "cover-up murder. in suicide ".

- Lukashenko methods -

In May, Belarusian authorities arrested exiled opposition journalist Roman Protassevich after hijacking the airliner he was on, sparking international outcry.

In the past, the regime has also been accused of forming "death squads" to eliminate adversaries.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, father of his country's current Olympic Committee boss, September 6, 2009 in Vilnius PETRAS MALUKAS AFP / Archives

As a result, the Polish authorities have not confirmed the date of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya's flight to Warsaw.

"The regime of Alexander Lukashenko is known to use various methods, often completely illegal (against its detractors), which is why it is best to provide as few details as possible," said Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel. Jablonski, on the Polsat News television channel.

A few days earlier, she had openly criticized the Belarusian Athletics Federation for wanting to force her to participate in the 4x400m relay, when she was supposed to run the 100m and 200m, because two other athletes from the country had failed. not carried out a sufficient number of doping controls, according to her.

Fearing to end up in prison in Belarus, she called on the IOC to intervene and finally spent the night from Sunday to Monday in an airport hotel.

Then she joined the Polish embassy, ​​a country in solidarity with Belarusian opponents and hated by the Lukashenko regime.

- 'Alarming violations' -

The sports union Global Athlete on Monday called on the IOC to suspend the Belarusian Olympic Committee, headed by Viktor Lukashenko, the son of the President of Belarus, and to allow the country's sportsmen to compete under a neutral banner.

The Tsimanouskaya case "is yet another example of alarming violations against athletes in Belarus," Global Athlete denounced in a statement.

The Japanese government declined to comment on the matter.

A policeman on duty tries to contain journalists on August 2, 2021, in front of the Polish embassy in Tokyo where Krystsina Tsimanouskaya Yuki IWAMURA has taken refuge AFP

The young woman was hardly known before this affair, but she had publicly expressed in the past her sympathy for the anti-Lukashenko movement.

The state media in Belarus, for their part, have increased attacks against the young woman, implying that she was acting on behalf of the West.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Facebook that he spoke to the sprinter, who is still "safe".

"Poland will continue to actively support the entire Belarusian nation, and the persecuted opposition activists," he added.

© 2021 AFP