news agency

The judge orders the release of Djokovic, who will be able to play the Australian Open

The judge has ordered the Australian government to implement the release order within the next 30 minutes, hand over his passport and personal effects, and pay Djokovic’s legal costs.

An Australian court has ordered this Monday the release of the number one tennis player, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, who had been detained since last Thursday in a detention center in the city of Melbourne after the revocation of his visa for not being vaccinated against covid-19.

Melbourne Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly has ordered the Australian Government to implement the release order within 30 minutes, hand over his passport and personal effects, and pay Djokovic’s legal costs.

The court decision would allow Djokovic to participate in the Australian Open, which if he won, would become his tenth title of that tournament and his twenty-first Grand Slam and thus surpass the Swiss Roger Federer and the Spanish Rafael Nadal.

In today’s virtual hearing, the Australian Government has agreed to reverse its decision to cancel the visa, although lawyer Christopher Tran has indicated that the Minister of Immigration, Alex Hawke, is considering the possibility of using his special powers to deport Djokovic.

This potential gesture by Scott Morrison’s executive, who is seeking re-election this year, would be “very worrying,” Judge Kelly said when weighing the potential consequences.

During today’s anticipated virtual hearing, which has started late due to technical problems, Djokovic’s lawyers have alleged that the player followed all the immigration steps he believed necessary to enter Australia.

The Australian Government requires travelers to have the complete schedule of the covid-19 vaccine or a valid medical exemption to enter the country.

You may also like

Hot News

TRENDING NEWS

Subscribe

follow us

Immediate Access Pro