Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Relatives Report

A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military detention facility, according to relatives of the prisoners.

Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.

They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be detained for political reasons.

Details of the Detention

An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a high-ranking internal security officer in the government.

Around 30 people were originally arrested, according to the source. A number have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.

Profile of an Olympian

Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.

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

List of Freed

Those released alongside Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a surveyor.

A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well.

The Eritrean government has remained silent regarding the releases.

Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released at this time.

Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives said.

Global Criticism and Detention Environment

United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and the detention of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.

Mai Serwa prison, 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 Political Control

For the past thirty years, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription.

There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of independent newspapers and detention of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.

This was when the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president 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 allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.

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