Olympic Athlete and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people held for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military detention facility, as stated by family members of the detainees.
Among those freed were several prominent figures, such as elderly Olympian cyclist and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, per the source. A number have been freed in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years.
List of Freed
Those released alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed now.
Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the family members said.
Global Criticism and Prison Conditions
The UN and rights organizations have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.
Context of Government Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been no free press since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections.
Per rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.