MFA: Krystsina Tsimanouskaya is safe and plans to fly to Poland

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya informed on Sunday that, due to her criticism of Belarusian sport authorities, she had been banned to represent the country at the Olympics and forced to return to Belarus. She had refused to do so and asked the police at a Tokyo airport for help.

On Monday, the athlete, who in the end did not leave Tokyo, was granted a humanitarian visa at the Embassy of Poland. Polish diplomats placed her in safety and offered her help in getting to Poland. The Japanese Foreign Ministry also provided help to the athlete, while the International Olympic Committee decided to look into the case.

On Tuesday, Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told TVN24 that Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was in safety at the Polish Embassy in Tokyo.

"She is in much better condition than yesterday. The feeling of safety, probably the most basic human need, has been ensured. Ms Tsimanouskaya is safe and plans to fly to Poland," he informed.

He added, however, that surely "this whole stressful situation has taken its toll on her". "Try to imagine a situation in which someone prepares for the Olympics for most of her life, probably the most important event for any athlete, and her story turns in in a completely different direction. She has to salvage herself by running away under such dramatic circumstances," he said.

Przydacz also mentioned a "swift help from Japanese authorities", thanks to which the Belarusian athlete could not be taken back to her country against her will.

Asked about the safety of the Belarusian athlete during her planned trip to Poland, he replied: "Disclosing details of her security in front of TV cameras wouldn't be the best idea. Any forces wanting to do harm in this situation could take advantage from it".

He reassured that Poland would do its best to ensure "the transport goes as safely as possible". "We're cooperating with the Japanese side, which is very helpful," said the deputy minister. "The flight itself will be scheduled so that it is as safe as possible," he added.

In his opinion, the risk of such flight being hijacked is very low. "But that doesn't mean we take these matters lightly. It will certainly be arranged to ensure that Ms Tsimanouskaya safely arrives in Warsaw," he stressed.

Przydacz also said that Belarusian independent ogranisations had asked him for information on Tsimanouskaya's situation already on Sunday afternoon. "After verifying all said events, I had offered our help," he added.

He reminded that Tsimanouskaya has filed for a humanitarian visa at the Polish embassy. He explained that "this is a special instrument designed exactly for such situations, whenever there's an urgent need for permission to cross the border, to come to Poland, for anyone who for political reasons cannot stay for example in Belarus". He added these regulations have been changed by the Polish parliament after the rigged election in Belarus, and over 10,000 people have used this type of visa so far.

"At this stage Ms Tsimanouskaya has a visa which allows her to peacefully live in Poland, travel and work across Europe. But as we all know, the question of continuing her sports career remains open," said the Polish diplomat. He also mentioned that Tsimanouskaya's husband had also left Belarus. "If her family wants to join her, they will also be most welcome in Poland," he said.

Polish ambassador to Japan Paweł Milewski published a photo of himself and the Belarusian athlete on Twitter, taken in the embassy.

In the tweet he informed that the two had a good conversation in his office on Tuesday morning. "She is doing well & thanks us all for extending a helping hand against those who do not wish her well," wrote the ambassador. "Great feeling for a diplomat to try to help someone who is in urgent need of support," he added.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Tuesday said on Facebook that the Olympic Games were also meant to promote universal values of freedom, comradeship and solidarity.

"Yesterday, in the spirit of these values, we provided safe shelter to Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya at the Polish Embassy in Tokyo, placing her under care of the Polish state. Thanks to a swift reaction by Polish diplomatic service, Ms Tsimanouskaya has been already granted a humanitarian visa," said the prime minister.

"I'm happy to inform that soon she will be able to fly over to Warsaw where we will offer her further support. We help and will keep on helping all those persecuted by regimes, where human right are violated and democracy is in danger. Belarusians, remember - We Are with You" - Morawiecki emphasised.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday criticised actions of the Belarusian authorities taken against Tsimanouskaya. In his view, the attempt to force her to return to Belarus was an unacceptable violation of her basic rights.

"The Lukashenka regime sought to commit another act of transnational repression: attempting to force Olympian Krystsyna Tsimanouskaya to leave simply for exercising free speech," Blinken said in a tweet.

"Such actions violate the Olympic spirit, are an affront to basic rights, and cannot be tolerated," said the chief of U.S. diplomacy.