An opposition group (The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation) which helps athletes in Belarus has expressed to the BBC that Ms Timanovskaya is seeking asylum in Poland.
Asylum is protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their home country, check our latest blog on Asylum and Humanitarian Protection.
Krystina Timanovskaya was due to compete in the women’s 200m event on Monday, 2 August. However, she has claimed that she was entered into this Thursday’s 400m relay event at short notice. She expressed discontent at this on her Instagram page which resulted in considerable backlash from the Belarusian media.
She claims that she was given an hour to pack her stuff and was forcibly taken to Tokyo’s Haneda airport. Following this, the 24-year-old sprinter spent the night in a hotel under protection from Japanese police.
A grant of asylum can provide an individual with rights of residence in a country, but, more importantly, it protects that individual from forced removal to the persecuting state – including by means of deportation or extradition.
Gherson have a wealth of experience in Human Rights-based claims and work alongside internationally renowned counsel to ensure that our clients’ claims are always prepared to the highest possible standard and every avenue for protection is explored.
Please note that Gherson do not offer legal aid. If you have any questions regarding the asylum process, including obtaining the right to work as an asylum seeker, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
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