Many people have heard of Kryscin Cimanouska, a Belarusian sprinter who has become active in a political scandal. In 2021, Cimanouska escaped from the Olympic village in Tokyo and flew to Poland, where she received asylum and yet citizenship. But now Cimanouska is at the center of a fresh scandal that concerns her ex-husband, Arsen Zdanowicz.
Zdanewicz, who was married to Cimanouska for six years, received Polish citizenship after only 9 months of waiting. Cimanouska claims that her ex-husband should not receive citizenship due to the fact that he did not meet the conditions. Zdanowicz stated that returning to Belarus is dangerous for him, but now it turns out that he returned to Belarus, which Cimanouska revealed on the basis of entries on social media.
Cimanouska wants the Polish authorities to invalidate the Polish passport that they issued to her ex-husband. The Athletic says that Zdanewicz cheated the Polish authorities, stating that he was a political refugee, while in fact he did not meet the conditions. Cimanouska besides revealed that Zdanewicz cheated on her and cheated financially, which led to their divorce.
According to Cimanouska, Zdanewicz did not meet the conditions to receive Polish citizenship. The Athletic says that Zdanewicz signed a request for citizenship, stating that returning to Belarus is dangerous for him, but now it turns out that he has returned to Belarus. Cimanouska besides claims that Zdanewicz spoke out against the government in Belarus and supported the opposition, which Cimanouska finds unserious.
The case of Cimanouska and Zdanowicz is very complex and controversial. Many people ask how it is possible that Zdanewicz received Polish citizenship after only 9 months of waiting. Cimanouska claims that the Polish authorities should examine his citizenship and invalidate it, due to the fact that Zdanowicz deceived the Polish authorities.
According to data from 2022, Poland accepted over 30 000 refugees from Belarus, of which more than 10 000 received Polish citizenship. Cimanouska claims that Zdaniewicz did not meet the conditions to get Polish citizenship, and that the Polish authorities should consider applications for citizenship more carefully.
Many people fear that the case of Cimanouska and Zdanowicz may obscure the image of Poland as a country that respects human rights. Cimanouska claims that the Polish authorities should cancel Zdanowicz's Polish passport to guarantee that Polish citizenship is not abused.
It is worth recalling that Poland is simply a signatory to the Geneva Convention, which provides that refugees should receive protection in the country to which they flee. Cimanouska claims that Zdaniewicz did not meet the conditions to get Polish citizenship, and that the Polish authorities should consider applications for citizenship more carefully.
Nowadays, erstwhile many people escape war and persecution, the case of Cimanouska and Zdanowicz is very important. Poland should guarantee that Polish citizenship is not abused and that all refugees are treated fairly.
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Identity crisis: Polish passport case of erstwhile husband Kryscina Cimanouska