Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report
A group of thirteen people detained for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, as stated by family members of the detainees.
Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are considered political prisoners.
Circumstances Surrounding the Detention
A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, according to the source. A number have been released over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its cyclists have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
List of Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
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 of the detainees.
Many of them are in poor health and this could explain why they have been released now.
Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members said.
International Criticism and Detention Environment
The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Context of Government Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of private publications and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the head of state implement the draft constitution and hold open elections.
According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the president recently passed 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.