Sofiane Sehili. Photo: Sehili’s Instagram account
A French cyclist who was detained earlier this month for illegally entering Russia during an attempt to break the world record for the fastest bicycle crossing of Eurasia has been remanded in custody in the Russian Far East until 4 October, state-affiliated news agency Interfax reported on Wednesday.
Sofiane Sehili, who had been documenting his journey from Lisbon to Vladivostok on Instagram, was detained at the Russian-Chinese border on 2 September, French newspaper Le Monde reported, after unsuccessfully attempting to cross from China into Russia at two separate border crossings.
According to 200, a French magazine for cycling enthusiasts cited by French media, Sehili first attempted to cross the border at Dongning with a Russian e-visa, but was turned back, as only local residents are permitted to use the crossing. He then reportedly travelled to another crossing point, some 60km away, where he was also turned away, after which he decided to reach the next border crossing via a forest path, where he was ultimately detained by Russian border guards.
According to Le Monde, Sehili had told his followers that he was stuck on the Chinese-Russian border on 2 September and lamented that “failing so close to the goal” was “heartbreaking”, but made no mention of facing criminal charges for illegally entering the country.
Vladimir Naydin, a member of the Primorye region’s public monitoring commission tasked with overseeing detention conditions, told Interfax that Sehili was being held in a “bright double cell” in the city of Ussuryisk, “equipped with everything necessary, including a TV”.
The French Foreign Ministry told Novaya Gazeta Europe that it was monitoring the situation closely and that the French Consulate in Moscow was in touch with the Russian authorities regarding Sehili’s case.
“He will probably be convicted, imprisoned, and added to the list of political prisoners who can be exchanged,” a source familiar with the situation told independent news outlet Govorit NeMoskva on Tuesday. “He’s in shock, of course. To land himself in prison over something so stupid.”