Evans Kibet is imprisoned in Ukraine.
Evans Kibet said he was cheated in the Russian army. Illustration. Aop
Tears in the eyes Evans kibet He prays not to be sent back to Russia.
– I’ll die there, Kibet says in a video of the Ukrainian army BBC Published on Facebook, for example.
Kibet, 36, is a Kenyan runner. The man says in the video that he was cheated in the Russian army. Now Kibet is imprisoned in Ukraine, but he would like to return to his home, where a 16-year-old daughter is reportedly waiting for the endurance runner.
“This is an example of how Russia treats foreigners,” the video published by Ukraine states.
The Ukrainian army also reminds us that Kibet fought on the enemy side, so “you can think about, do you believe in her words and tears.”
The story is shocking.
“Signature ruined my life”
BBC has interviewed Kibet’s loved ones. According to them, the athlete was financially tight when he was offered the opportunity to compete in Russia. Kibet grabbed it.
– He was very excited when he said he was going to compete in Russia. I too was happy for him. We had high expectations, Kibet’s brother Isaac kipyego tells you.
Kibet’s cousin Cheso took the runner to the bus station at the end of July. He only had a small bag, as the trip didn’t have to last a couple of weeks longer.
When a couple of weeks was full, Kibet was asked if he would like to stay in Russia. The athlete responded in affirmative, but the visa had already become old. It was reportedly didn’t hurt.
Kibet was faced with a “contract of employment”, which could be signed in the country. He didn’t understand anything about it because the text was in Russian.
“I didn’t know it was a military job,” Kibet says in the video.
He signed the papers. After that, the man was taken from the phone and a passport.
– That signature ruined my life.
Getaway
According to Kibet, he was ordered to the car after the signature. He sat there for seven hours. Then the man stepped out and found himself at the military base.
Kibet was informed that he had now joined the Russian army.
– I was told, “You go to fight or we will kill you.”
According to the runner, he was given basic training for the week to teach the use of a weapon. The trainers did not speak English, so the guidance took place.
However, Kibet says he has fled the first task. He says he has wandered through the woods for two days into the Harkova area, where Ukrainian soldiers came across.
– I went up there and said I was a Kenyan. Don’t shoot.
According to Kibet, the weapons of the soldiers showed him. He said he was unarmed and just wanted to save his life. Now he is a prisoner of war.
“I didn’t sleep at night”
Kibet’s relatives are shocked by a story that a man tells in the video.
– I’m so traumatized. I didn’t sleep at night. I don’t even know what to say, Chesoi told the BBC.
Kibet’s circle feels that the runner is in the captive of the Ukrainians better than in the Russian army, but they would like the man a lot back home.
– If the Kenyan government is interested in his repatriation, Ukraine is open to negotiations, Ukraine spokesman Petro Yatsenko told the BBC.
However, according to Yatsenko, African countries are generally not interested in taking such prisoners back in their country.
According to Isaac Kipyego, Kibet is a low -word and modest man, a family support pillar who has dedicated his life to sports.
“I love running,” Kibet said in a video published by Ukrainians.