Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say

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 relatives of the detainees.

Among those freed were several prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.

They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners.

Circumstances Surrounding the Detention

An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a high-ranking 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 roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned.

The Story of an Athlete

Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.

The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its cyclists have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.

List of Freed

The individuals freed with Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.

Six senior police officers and an internal security agent were released as well.

The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases of the detainees.

Many of them are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.

Families were prohibited to see the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members reported.

Global Criticism and Prison Conditions

The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.

Mai Serwa facility, located 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, according to reports.

Context of Government Control

For the past thirty years, 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 shutdown of private publications and detention 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 demanded that the head of state put into effect the draft constitution and hold open elections.

Per advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, remain unknown.

Now 79 years old, the leader marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.