“It's been three or four days that we have no direct news,” said Sofiane Sehili's brother

The French cyclist had tried to cross the border between China and Russia to complete his bicycle journey from Lisbon. According to his brother, he is currently held in a pre -trial detention center north of Vladivostok.

“It's been a few days that we didn't have any news, we had in writing five or six days ago, a voice note also transmitted through his lawyer committed.testifies for the first time, Tuesday, September 9, on Franceinfo, Yanis Sehili, the brother of Sofiane Sehili, the 44 -year -old French cyclist arrested in Russia while trying to break the world record for the Eurasian bicycle, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. His last message on social networks dates from September 2. He explained that the border between China and Russia had been refused twice.

In his latest message, “He explained the terms of the procedure to us, that there were documents to provide so that the file was processed in good and due form”during his visit to this border post. In his voice, “It was rather positive, there was no panic. At this stage it is in a pre -trial detention center, awaiting the procedure north of Vladivostok”details his brother. “It is a simple French sportsman, specialized in the ultra-endurance that had embarked on a world record, the crossing of Eurasia, with two objectives, one of them beating the world record and the other, promoting the bicycle journey through countries, the continents to go a little to exceed political cleavages, it is his motivation”explains Yanis Sehili.

Russia criticizes him for crossing this border, knowing that he had already been able to enter Russia, according to his brother, “He had all the necessary documents, he had his visas and he had already entered” in the country “Since his journey was initially passed through Russia from Georgia, he had met people in the Grozny region”. Sofiane Sehili arrived on this border post intended only for Chinese nationals in particular. “He is used to traveling, he is used to crossing borders. Simply, he headed for this border post presenting his documents by explaining his approach, saying that we were going to let him leave”but that was not the case. Sofiane Sehili had traveled 17,600 kilometers on her bike across 17 countries, in all times, on any type of road. On average it was rolling around 280 kilometers a day to break this endurance record.

“At this point it is a completely minor offense. It is treated as a classic file, an investigation is underway to validate its journey, its motivations. On this we have absolutely no doubt”testifies his brother. “It is a French, known and recognized sportsman who documents everything he does. He has been practicing this discipline for more than ten years. He is recognized as the specialist in this discipline on surfaces which are rather trails or forest paths and he has won one of the largest races in the United States, events in France, it is one of the best in this discipline, certainly not very mediated but is recognized”insists Yanis Sehili.

The French Embassy in Moscow tried to contact Sofiane Sehili, which can take time in the current diplomatic context of war in Ukraine. “Our general consulate in Moscow has attached the Russian authorities and requested the exercise of consular protection”said diplomatic sources. At this hour, the border guards of Vladivostok do not confirm the arrest of Sofiane Sehili. There has been a matter with a Frenchman, but he is free, say the Russian authorities, without further details.