Krystsina Tsimanouskaya described on Thursday a dramatic series of events at the Olympics that led her to decide not to return to Belarus, where an authoritarian government has relentlessly pursued its critics. She fled instead to Poland, arriving Wednesday.
Tsimanouskaya posted a social media message in which she criticized the management of her team. She was then told to pack her bags. Tsimanouskaya was told by team officials that she was hurt and needed to return home quickly.
She spoke briefly with her grandmother on her way to the airport. She explained to her that there had been a lot of backlash against her from the Belarusian media, including reports about her mental illness. According to her grandmother, she was advised not to go back. Her parents suggested that she go to Poland.
She sought assistance from police at the airport. They didn’t understand what she was saying at first and asked a Belarusian official why. She said she had forgotten something at the Olympic Village and that she needed to return. She was eventually taken away by police from the Belarusian officials.
European countries offered their assistance as the drama progressed. The runner eventually arrived at the Polish Embassy, where she was issued a humanitarian visa. Many activists from Belarus fled to Poland in order to escape President Alexander Lukasenko’s brutal crackdown on dissent.
Josep Borrell (EU’s foreign policy chief) tweeted that he was “Reassured that the athlete Krystsina @Tsimanouskaya arrived safely in Poland.” However, he lamented that “One more proud Belarusian had to flee her country because of the Lukashenko regime” and that the Olympic truce had been broken.
Tsimanouskaya thanked all those who helped her through the standoff at a Warsaw news conference on Thursday.
She said, “It was all the world, and these people make you much stronger.” She said she now feels secure.
She had also a message to share with fellow Belarusians.
“I want all Belarusians to not be afraid” and to speak up if under pressure,” stated the runner. He spoke simultaneously in Russian and English at the news conference.
She expressed concern for her family’s safety back home. Arseni Zdanevich was her husband. He fled Belarus this week, shortly after she said that she would not be returning. He was also granted a visa by Poland.
These events have brought more attention to Belarus’ uncompromising authoritarian government. After Lukashenko won a sixth term, but was criticized by the West and opposition for his performance in the election, the country was rocked with months of protests. Authorities responded with a brutal crackdown. Around 35,000 people were detained and thousands of protestors were beaten. Independent media and opposition figures were also targeted by the government.
Officials in Belarus diverted a passenger plane to Minsk’s capital in May, arresting a journalist on board.
Although Tsimanouskaya was not referring to team officials, her disobedience may not be appreciated by political leaders. Lukashenko was the Belarus National Olympic Committee’s leader for nearly a quarter of a century before he handed the job over to his son in February. He has a keen interest sports and considers it a key element in national prestige.
Tsimanouskaya insists that she is not a political activist and never wanted to flee Belarus. She only wants to be allowed to compete in her favorite event at the Olympics. After she complained about being scheduled to compete in a race that she had never participated in, the dispute began.
Tsimanouskaya called for an investigation into the incident, and the International Olympic Committee stated that it opened a case of disciplinary “to establish the facts” in her matter.
In the disputed August election, the main opposition candidate to Lukashenko stated that Tsimanouskaya’s case was a sign of how far his government will go.
“The message is now that even if your not involved in opposition movement, even if no demonstrations took place, but you show disloyalty towards the regime because actions are against you, you are under attack,” Sviatlana Sikhanouskaya stated to The Associated Press in an interview.
The 24-year-old runner stated that she had not considered seeking political asylum, but that she hoped to one day return home when it is safe. She said that she was eager to find out how she could continue her career. She stated that she will talk to Polish officials Friday about her next steps.
She said, “I wanted to run at Olympics. It was my dream.” “I hope these weren’t the last Olympics in me.”