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Russian Court Releases French Cyclist After Conviction for Illegal Border Crossing

The judge credited weeks of pre-trial detention, sparing him a 50,000‑ruble penalty.

Overview

  • Sofiane Sehili, 44, was found guilty of entering from China at a crossing restricted to trains and buses.
  • He was freed in the courtroom in Russia’s Far East after more than seven weeks in custody.
  • The court ordered the return of his passport, electronics, navigator, camera, phones, and bicycle.
  • He had been attempting to set the fastest Lisbon‑to‑Vladivostok cycling record across Eurasia.
  • His partner said plans are being made for his return home after court footage showed him in a defendants’ cage wearing cycling shoes.