The nine-time Australian Open champion “is not being held captive” in Australia and can leave whenever he wants, said the Australian Home Affairs minister on Friday (7), after the Serb’s visa to enter in the country was canceled for not complying with the required rules.
“He’s free to go out any time he wants and the Border Force will really make it easy,” Karen Andrews told ABC.
“It is the individual traveller’s responsibility to ensure that all documents required to enter Australia are in order,” he added.
Djokovic arrived in Melbourne last Wednesday (5th) after tournament organizers, in conjunction with Victoria’s Health Department, said he had received a medical waiver – a decision that has sparked a backlash among many Australians.
The world number 1 in men’s tennis has not publicly disclosed whether he has ever been vaccinated against Covid-19 – but Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic “did not have a valid medical exemption” for the vaccination requirement for all newborns. -arrived.
Djokovic’s visa was canceled on Thursday, and he is currently staying at the Park Hotel, where he was reportedly transferred after being detained at the airport, according to affiliates of the CNN, Seven Network e Nine News.
The hotel was previously used as a Covid-19 quarantine hotel for returning travelers, but now functions as a detention center for asylum seekers and refugees.
On Friday (7), his wife, Jelena Djokovic, spoke for the first time on social media since the beginning of the saga.
“Thank you, dear people, around the world for using your voice to send love to my husband,” she said in Instagram and Twitter posts.
“I’m taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) right now for everything that’s happening. The only law that we must all respect at every border is love and respect for another human being”, he added.
Reference: CNN Brasil
