Belarus sprinter Krystina Timanovskaya: 'It's definitely not safe for me to return'

In an exclusive interview, the Belarusian sprinter Krystina Timanovskaya has told the BBC that Belarus is not safe and she may not be able to go home for five to ten years.

On Saturday, she posted what might seem on the face of it, a harmless post on Instagram. The post was about her coaches entering her for an event she was not expecting to take part in. It resulted in her being forcibly being taken to the airport by Belarussian authorities, but Ms Timanovskaya refused to return to Belarus. Instead, she sought help and the Polish authorities have offered her a humanitarian visa; she is expected to fly to Poland on Wednesday.

Newshour's Razia Iqbal spoke from to her inside the safety of the Polish embassy and began by asking how she was, given what has happened to her.

(Picture shows Belarusian athlete Krystsyna Tsimanouskaya wearing a white facemask at Haneda international airport in Tokyo. Credit: Reuters)