In Vladivostok, French cyclist Sofiane Sehili, who was attempting to break the world record for crossing Eurasia by bicycle, was arrested, reported Le Monde. According to the publication, the 44-year-old Sehili is currently in custody on charges of illegally crossing the border.
Later, the information was confirmed by TASS, without specifying that the Frenchman was arrested.
On September 2, the Frenchman, who left the capital of Portugal on July 1, reported on his Instagram page that he was detained by customs officers at the Chinese-Russian border after he twice attempted to enter Russian territory through two borders located 200 kilometers apart. The first time, the cyclist crossed into Russia in Chechnya, entering from Georgia. In the Astrakhan region, he left Russia, continuing his journey through Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia.
The French consulate is trying to assist Sehili, writes Le Monde.
Sehili has been involved in endurance cycling since 2012, before which he was a documentary filmmaker. During his cycling career, Sehili has participated in about twenty major races, winning eleven of them, including the prestigious "Tour Divide" in 2022—a race spanning 4,500 km from Canada to the border with Mexico.