Threatened to be forcibly repatriated to Belarus after having criticized the sports bodies following a dispute at the Tokyo Olympics, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was initially scheduled to take a direct flight from Tokyo to Warsaw.

But she changed her route at the last minute.

In Vienna, where she landed shortly after 1 p.m., a black vehicle, followed by two police cars, awaited the 24-year-old, whose case has dominated the extra-sporting news of the Tokyo Games in recent days. .

Preserve your security

It was a question of "preserving his safety", explained to the press the Austrian Secretary of State Magnus Brunner, who went to meet him, according to official photos in which the athlete is seen appearing in jeans and a colorful mask. .

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya appeared "in good shape, given the circumstances," he told reporters.

“She naturally worries about her family.

She is tired and tense after the events of recent days, "" nervous about what awaits ", detailed Mr. Brunner.

Double humanitarian visa

Until now unknown to the general public and discreet about politics, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya suddenly found herself in the spotlight.

She said Sunday to have escaped forced repatriation to Belarus, a few days after openly criticizing the athletics federation of her country in the middle of the Tokyo Olympics.

Fearing that she would end up in prison if she returned to Belarus, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya had obtained help from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and police protection while at Tokyo-Haneda airport.

She then took refuge at the Polish embassy in the Japanese capital, while the IOC initiated an official investigation.

The Polish government, which has promised to "continue to actively support the entire Belarusian nation and persecuted opposition activists," also granted a humanitarian visa on Wednesday to the sportswoman's husband, Arseni Zdanevich, who had fled to Ukraine. .

The athlete then moved to Warsaw where she will speak to the press for the first time on Thursday. 

Sport

Olympics 2021: Threatened with a forced return to Belarus, Tsimanouskaya is "safe" in Japan according to the IOC

World

Ukraine: Belarusian activist found hanged, his organization accuses Minsk

  • World

  • Olympic Games

  • Tokyo Olympics 2021

  • Belarus

  • Exile