Tsimanouskaya says she is grateful for Poland's assistance

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who landed safely in Warsaw on Wednesday night from Vienna, has stated that she is glad to be safe in Poland, and announced she wants to stay in this country.

Addressing a Thursday press conference, Tsimanouskaya expressed her gratitude to the Japanese authorities, the Polish Foreign Ministry and Polish diplomatic services for making it possible for her to fly from Japan to Warsaw.

"I am glad that I am safe,” she said.

Asked if she was going to apply for political asylum in Poland, Tsimanouskaya said that she had not yet made up her mind, but confirmed that she planned to stay in this country.

"We have chosen Poland since I have also talked about this with my parents, who said that Poland might be the best variant for me," she told reporters, adding that she hoped they would be able to come to Poland.

The sprinter had left the Olympic Games and entered the Polish Embassy in Japan. Tsimanouskaya said that earlier Belarus team officials hustled her to the airport and tried to send her home early after she criticized how her team has been managed. The Polish government eventually granted the athlete a humanitarian visa.

"I was told at the Olympic village by people from our team to announce that I am injured, that I want to go home, and that if I do not do this, I will have problems after my return," she explained.

Tsimanouskaya's husband, Arseni Zdanevich, fled Belarus this week shortly after his wife said she would not be returning home. Poland has also granted him a visa, and he is expected to join her.

"I think that when my husband arrives today, we should decide together. At this moment I am not able to answer anything specific. I hope that we will be able to stay here, continue my career, that my husband will find a job here," said the sprinter.

When asked if she was concerned about the safety of her family and friends, she replied that she was very concerned about her parents who remain in Belarus. "They told me that everything is fine with them, so I hope that nothing bad will happen to them".

Tsimanouskaya was also asked what she would say to Belarusian citizens, as her situation is attracting the attention of the media. "I think I am ready to help people who may find themselves in a similar situation as me, or people who want to leave Belarus. I also want to tell all Belarusians to stop being afraid, if they are under any pressure, to openly talk about it. If anyone is under psychological pressure, if they have problems, they should write to me openly, I will try to answer every one of them openly," the athlete said.

Asked when she would be able to return to Belarus, Tsimanouskaya replied that she will be ready to return to Belarus when she is sure that her stay there will be safe.