A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, as stated by relatives of the prisoners.
Among those freed were several prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Circumstances Surrounding the Detention
A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated 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 initially detained, per the source. A number have been freed over the years, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned.
The Story of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed 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 cycling culture and its cyclists have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.
List of Freed
The individuals freed with Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen 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 released as well.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement regarding the releases of the detainees.
Many of them are in poor health and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Relatives were not allowed to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the relatives said.
Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions
The UN and rights organizations have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been no free press since the closure of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an election.
