When Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya criticized her coach for “being behind her” [her] Back in the 4x400m relay race of the Tokyo Olympics, she triggered a series of events that soon went beyond her control. On Sunday, she was removed from the team and driven to the airport by officials.But Zimanusskaya Denied boarding Return to Minsk and seek protection from the Japanese police.
protector Andrew Ross Tell Rachel Humphries This sports disagreement quickly turned into a political disagreement, and Zimanusskaya had no choice but to seek asylum outside Belarus. Now, after receiving humanitarian aid from Poland, she is flying from Tokyo to Vienna. Her husband Arseniy Zdanevich fled Belarus for Ukraine on Sunday.
The Tokyo incident made global headlines. This week it was reported that Vitaly Shishov, the head of the Kiev non-profit organization that helped Belarusians escape persecution, was found dead in a park in the Ukrainian capital. Some people suspect that he may have been murdered.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson met with Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Zihanusskaya and told her that Britain was on the side of those trying to overthrow the authoritarian regime led by Alexander Lukashenko.
Photo: Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters
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