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Russia: French cyclist Sofiane Sehili remains in prison after appeal rejected
French endurance cyclist Sofiane Sehili will remain in custody in Russia after a regional court in Primorye rejected his appeal against his detention, Russian judicial authorities announced on Thursday.
Sehili, 44, was arrested in early September for allegedly crossing the Russian border illegally while attempting to complete a world-record solo bike ride from Lisbon to Vladivostok. His lawyer, Alla Kouchnir, said that the court confirmed the initial decision ordering his pre-trial detention, which has now been extended until November 3.
The athlete, who began his journey in Lisbon in July, had planned to cycle across 17 countries before reaching the Russian Far East in early September. However, he reportedly entered Russia from China through a border point open only to trains and buses. Using one of those modes of transport, he feared, would have invalidated his record attempt.
Following the court’s ruling, his lawyer announced plans to file a cassation appeal before a higher court, according to Russian state agency RIA Novosti.
Sehili’s partner, Fanny Bensussan, told French television that he had chosen to present himself to Russian customs officers, convinced they would let him pass. “He was only focused on his sporting achievement,” she said.
A former documentary researcher for the French magazine Télérama, Sofiane Sehili is a well-known figure in ultracycling, a discipline involving extreme long-distance races. His case comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Western countries, with several foreign nationals detained in Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
