Russian Court Frees French Cyclist Sehili After Illegal Border Crossing Verdict

French endurance cyclist Sofiane Sehili was released by a Russian court after being detained for seven weeks on suspicion of illegally crossing the Russian border while attempting to break the world record for cycling across Eurasia from Lisbon to Vladivostok. The court found Sehili guilty of crossing the border without valid documentation but waived a 50,000 ruble fine, taking into account the time he had already spent in detention, and released him directly from the courtroom. Sehili expressed relief and gratitude for the fair decision and reported decent conditions during his detention, despite communication challenges due to his lack of Russian language skills. His arrest occurred after he attempted twice to enter Russia from China, with only about 400 kilometers remaining to complete his record attempt. The court ruling closes this chapter of Sehili's ambitious journey, which took him through 17 countries before reaching Russia's Far East. This case highlights the difficulties faced by endurance athletes navigating international borders during extreme sporting attempts.