3 Aug 2021

Belarusian athlete who wouldn't go home given humanitarian visa

From Morning Report, 6:45 am on 3 August 2021

A Belarusian sprinter who refused to get on a plane home from the Tokyo Olympics has been granted a humanitartain visa by the Polish government.

Sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya sought assistance from the Japanese police at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Sunday after being told by her team to return home.

The 24-year-old walked into the Polish embassy in Tokyo yesterday, seeking support due to concerns for her safety after speaking out against her country's OIympic officials.

Police in Belarus have cracked down on dissent following a wave of protests triggered by an election last year which the opposition says was rigged to keep President Alexander Lukashenko in power.