The Belarusian runner appeared at the first press conference since the outbreak of the scandal. She explained to journalists that she did not know yet if and where to apply for asylum.

“I wasn't thinking about political asylum right now. Right now, I just want to keep playing sports, but continue my sports career here in Poland,” Krystina Cimanouska said.

She added that she made the decision about which country to choose from after consulting with her parents.

“They said that perhaps Poland would be the best option for me. Because perhaps it would also be possible for them to come to me here, so that we could at least meet sometimes,” she explained.

Cimanouska's husband, who fled to Ukraine shortly after the outbreak of the scandal, fearing reprisals with their son, also received a Polish humanitarian visa.

“My husband is on his way. I'm waiting for him. I hope he will find a job in Poland,” she emphasized. (The runner's husband - Arseń Zdaniewicz, is already with her in Warsaw. Such information was provided by the Belarusian oppositionist Pavel Latushka, quoted by the Reuters agency - editor)

She also said that when she went to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, she did not think that something like this would happen to her.

"In general, it would never occur to me that this could happen," she said.

However, she noted that she was very concerned about the safety of her family and friends. She is particularly concerned about the parents who stayed in Belarus.

"They told me they were fine, so I hope nothing bad will happen to them," she said.

Cimanouska also explained that "she is ready to help people who may find themselves in a similar situation to her or people who want to leave Belarus for political reasons."

(EURACTIV.pl)