Ultra-endurance cyclist Sofiane Sehili has been reportedly detained in prison in Russia for another month. The decision, made at a court hearing yesterday, was shared by Sehili’s partner on Instagram.
The Frenchman was first arrested by Russian border guards on 2nd September on suspicion of illegally crossing the border from China into Russia. He was attempting to break the world record for the fastest crossing of Eurasia by bike, travelling from Lisbon to Vladivostok, and was days away from finishing his challenge.
He’d previously vlogged about his difficulties crossing the Russian border, having earlier ridden into Russia from Georgia. He then travelled through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and China before his social media accounts went silent and his online tracker stopped recording his location.
Rather than crossing the border back into Russia by taking a 20km train, Sehili instead rode through woods and made his own way to the border post at the train station to report himself. There, he was promptly arrested on suspicion of crossing the border illegally. He has been held in pre-trial detention ever since.
His partner, fellow endurance cyclist Fanny Bensussan, told French media he had to cycle across the border to prevent his world record attempt being voided less than 400km from the finish of his 17,500km journey.
Since his arrest, Bensussan has continued to share updates on on Sehili’s condition on Instagram. However she has had no direct contact with her partner, and has only received letters on his condition.
Her latest post, shared this morning, reveals that Sehili is sharing a 15 square metre cell with two inmates and is learning Russian.
The French government are reportedly negotiating to secure Sehili’s release from pre-trial detention. The maximum penalty for illegally crossing the border in Russia is five year’s imprisonment. However it is possible that Russia may seek to use the 44-year-old as leverage to secure a prisoner exchange.
“You miss him, his family misses him, I miss him,” Bensussan previously wrote. “I am sure he’s patient, and confident, and does not loose [sic] hope.”
Bensussan also mentioned she was looking to organise an event for people to show their support for her partner whilst urging people to keep riding bikes, “since we are free to do so”.
6 thoughts on “French ultra-endurance cyclist imprisoned in Russia for ‘illegally crossing’ border during cycling world record attempt reportedly detained for another month”
Hindsight is a wonderful
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but you have to question the mentality of people who take risks entering states with repressive regimes such as Russia, Afganistan, the USA, China and half the Gulf states, especially if your entry is in any way different from the Tourist norm, or your appearance and lifestyle is in anyway divergent from the hetero-normative ideal in that country.
It doesnt matter how high your ideals or your desire to achieve something is, the risk of being held either to be made an example of, or as political leverage is small but very very real.
Dont do it. Dont let your loved ones do it.
I remember how reluctant I
I remember how reluctant I was a few weeks ago before I wrote almost the same comment under the original story, I was simply afraid of a possible backlash, which I didn’t really want to cause. As sad as this story is, I appreciate how much most of us here agreed (and still do) on this point.
With that said, it is utterly depressing what kind of world we live in.
Nice one including the USA in
Nice one including the USA in that list. Sad but true.
though USA but not the DPRK!
though USA but not the DPRK!
“Don’t take no for an answer”
“Don’t take no for an answer” even if it sends you to jail for breaking the local law. You call, Sofiane. In some parts of the world, cyclists are seen as a nuisance.
Or to put it another way.
Or to put it another way. The mental fortitude and monofocus that Sofiane has to complete all sorts of batshit crazy endurance events is utterly misapplied against the potential actions of a Nation State.
You cannot out-stubborn a hostile bureacracy.