Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report

Thirteen individuals detained for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, according to relatives of the detainees.

Those released were a number of well-known individuals, including 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.

They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be political prisoners.

Circumstances Surrounding the Detention

An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a senior internal security officer in the government.

Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, according to the source. Some have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.

Profile of an Athlete

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

The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years.

Those Among the Freed

Those released with Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.

Six senior police officers and an state security officer were also freed.

The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases.

A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.

Relatives were not allowed to see the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members said.

Global Condemnation 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 many 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 incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.

Context of Political Rule

For the past thirty years, 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 an absence of independent media since the closure of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their staff 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 proposed constitution and hold open elections.

According to rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, remain unknown.

Aged 79, the leader recently passed 32 years in power and has still never faced an electoral contest.