OREANDA-NEWS. Australian Minister of Immigration Alex Hawk will continue to consider the possibility of re-canceling the visa of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in accordance with the country's immigration laws. This was reported on Tuesday by The Age newspaper with reference to the press secretary of the head of the department.

As noted in the statement, since Monday "Minister Hawke is considering the abolition of Djokovic's visa in accordance with article 133 of the Migration Law (regulates the special powers of the Minister of Immigration, allowing him to cancel a previously issued visa - TASS note)." It is indicated that the decision will be made "in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures <…> and further comments on this issue are inappropriate."

Earlier it was reported that the minister may decide to re-annul the visa of the Serbian athlete and his deportation, followed by a ban on entry for three years on Tuesday, but later the authorities refrained from commenting on the exact date. The time frame for making such a decision is not regulated by law.

Novak Djokovic was detained at the Melbourne airport due to the fact that he could not provide the Australian border guards with documents on medical exemption from vaccination against coronavirus. After the proceedings, the athlete's visa was canceled, and he himself was warned about the need to leave the country. Djokovic went to federal court in Australia, challenging the legality of the border service's decision, and won the case, but the Australian authorities said they would consider the possibility of re-canceling the athlete's visa and deporting him from the country.

The arrival of the first racket of the world to Australia without the mandatory vaccination for all foreigners with two doses of drugs against coronavirus caused a sharply negative reaction in the country and caused harsh criticism against both the athlete himself and the federal and regional authorities of the country, which faced accusations of the practice of double standards ...

The Australian Open will take place from 17 to 30 January in Melbourne.