Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, whose entry visa was canceled for the second time this Friday, will be questioned on Saturday morning by the Australian immigration authorities, as a preliminary step to the resolution that the court will dictate.
After cancellation, an Australian judge ordered in an emergency hearing that Djokovic is not deported “immediately” until the justice reviews on Sunday the decision made by the Immigration Minister that will be challenged by the tennis player’s lawyers.
The Judge Anthony Kelly also determined that Djokovic remain free until 8 a.m. on Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday). when you go to an appointment with immigration officials in the city of Melbourne, where you will be detained.
But nevertheless, two customs agents will then transport Djokovic to a place where he can meet with his lawyers to prepare the case.
The hearing will be held in the Federal Court, a higher instance, and it is expected to start and end on sunday, one day before the start of the Australian Open, which takes place between January 17 and 30 in the city of Melbourne.
TWO CANCELLATIONS AND ONE JUDGE
Djokovic traveled to Melbourne on January 5 from Spain with a medical exemption for not being vaccinated, having recently been infected with covid-19, although upon arrival the Immigration authorities canceled his visa and detained him.
Last monday, a court also presided over by Judge Kelly ordered the release of the tennis player after understanding that he had not been treated “fairly”.
On Wednesday, Djokovic admitted that his representatives made “mistakes humans” in his declaration to enter Australia, since it was indicated that he had not traveled in the previous 14 days, but the truth is that he had moved from Serbia to Spain.
What’s more, recognized an “error of judgment” after having attended an interview with the French outlet L’Equipe on December 18 in Belgrade, despite knowing that he had covid-19.
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister, Scot Morrison, today defended the second cancellation of the visa of Djokovic, highlighting the sacrifices made by Australians during the pandemic in the country, which has been one of the strictest in applying restrictions.
“Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly hope that the result of those sacrifices will be protected,” the president said.
Nevertheless, the tennis player’s lawyer, Nicholas Wood, stressed during today’s hearing that Djokovic should not be deported because he has a medical exemption and does not represent a risk to the community.
“Mr. Djokovic might have to play on Monday or Tuesday. In those circumstances, we are very concerned about the weather,” Wood said.
The lawyer also pointed out that Minister Hawke decided to cancel the tennis player’s visa on the grounds that his presence could stir up “anti-vaccine sentiment” in Australia and stated that the cancellation of his visa could affect the tennis player’s career.
Djokovic seeks his 10th Australian Open title and to be the most awarded tennis player in history with 21 Grand Slams, surpassing his main rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Serbian authorities defended number one and criticized the treatment he received when he was held for four days in a special hotel where some immigrants and refugees have been deprived of their liberty for years.
But nevertheless, also indicated that Djokovic will have to explain the circumstances in which the isolation was skipped when he was positive for covid-19.
The controversy occurs in a delicate moment in Australia, which this year is holding elections and experiencing its worst wave of covid-19 due to the omicron variant, which has shot up cases from less than 2,000 in December to an average of more than 100,000 this week.
THE FORECASTS ARE AGAINST THE SERBIAN
The Analysts predict that it will be difficult for them to succeed in reversing the cancellation, since they will have to show that there was an “error of form” or that the prohibition lacks a legal basis.
The Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke today used special powers that the law grants him to cancel Djokovic’s visa for health and public order reasons, although the athlete can still appeal this decision to the courts.
In addition to not being vaccinated against covid-19, the tennis player acknowledged mistakes and inconsistencies in the declaration to enter Australia, as well as an “error of judgment” when skipping isolation after contracting covid-19 in Serbia, in December.
Djokovic He had declared upon his arrival in the southern country that he had not traveled in the previous 14 days, but the truth is that he had moved from Serbia to Spain, while in his country of origin he gave an interview to a French media knowing that he was positive for covid-19.
The tennis player entered the draw for the Australian Open the day before, which starts on Monday, in the middle of the uncertainty due to a new legal battle in the development of the tournament.
Djokovic has been harshly criticized in Australia, which has suffered harsh restrictions due to the pandemic and where more than 77 percent of the population is vaccinated against covid-19.
Australia, which holds elections this year, fighting a rebound in covid-19 cases, which have gone from less than 2,000 daily infections in December to almost 150,000 this week, amid product shortages due to infections among essential workers.
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