A French endurance cyclist, detained for over a month in Russia after an "illegal entry" linked to his attempt to set a world record, has been released following a fine he was exempted from paying.
Sofiane Sehili, 44, was freed Thursday, a judicial source told Agence France Presse. He was initially fined 50,000 Russian rubles, approximately USD $530, for illegally crossing the border.
The court waived the fine due to the time Sehili had already spent in pre-trial detention in Pogranichny, in the Primorsky region.
Sehili was attempting to set a world record for a Euro-Asian cycling crossing, aiming to travel from Lisbon to Vladivostok. His detention stemmed from his attempt to cycle from China into Russia at a border post designated only for train or bus passengers.
Using those permitted transport methods would have invalidated his record attempt after 60 days of cycling and thousands of kilometers. Images published by the court on Telegram showed Sehili, dressed in blue, hearing the court’s decision from inside a metal cage reserved for defendants.
His partner, Fanny Bensussan, stated in September that Sehili had presented himself to Russian customs authorities, believing he would be understood. He was subsequently held at the Usuriysk detention center.
Charges for "illegal entry" in Russia can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison.
Sehili began his journey from Lisbon in early July, planning to traverse 17 countries before reaching Vladivostok by early September. According to his personal website, the ultra-distance specialist has cycled more than 200,000 kilometers across over 50 countries.
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His detention occurs amid significantly strained diplomatic relations between Paris and Moscow. Several citizens from Western countries have been detained in Russian territory since the start of the war against Ukraine in February 2022.
AFP’s attempts to contact Sehili’s lawyer, Alla Kouchnir, were unsuccessful.