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Olympics: Poland grants visa to Belarusian defector

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsymanouskaya has been granted a humanitarian visa by Poland today, after her refusal to board a flight back home in fear of being arrested by the Belarusian government after she had criticized her team management.

Poland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcin Przydacz, affirmed on Twitter that the athlete had received a humanitarian visa. “Poland will do whatever is necessary to help her to continue her sporting career. Poland always stands for Solidarity,” he added.

Reuters reported that Ms. Krystsina was seen entering the Polish embassy today as she had been planning to travel to Poland.

The Polish Embassy in London later quoted Marcin Przydacz in a tweet saying, “She’s very happy to be in a safe, protected place. She’s now at (Polish Embassy), awaiting the next step – the flight to Poland. (Poland) offered her our support & she is very much welcome to continue her sporting career on Polish land.”

Earlier on Sunday and prior to her upcoming 200 meters event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 today the sprinter had refused to board a plane that was supposed to take her back to Belarus. She claimed to have been forced and ‘put under pressure’ to pack up and board the flight by the Belarusian team representatives. At the airport she consequently sought help from the Japanese police stationed at the terminal instead of boarding her flight.

The incident occurred after she had criticized her coaching staff on social media for placing her in another 4x400m event at short notice, and without her consent.

Her husband, Arseniy Zdanevich, who is also an athlete, had left Belarus for Ukraine last night and is now in Kyiv. “I didn’t think it would get this serious, I made the decision to leave without thinking twice,” he said.

While declining any interest to oppose Belarus’ totalitarian government, Mr. Zdanevich further stated “We are just normal sports people, we are just devoted to sports and are not interested in the [political] opposition movement.” He plans to reunite with his beloved wife after she takes refuge in Poland.