MOSCOW: A French cyclist detained after trying to enter Russia’s Far East will be held in jail until at least next month, Russian state media reported Wednesday, citing a local court.
French media reported that Sofiane Sehili was arrested after crossing the Russian border with China illegally while attempting to break the record for the fastest endurance cycle from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported that a court in Russia’s Primorye region had ordered him held in pre-trial detention until October 4.
Citing the court’s press service, it did not say what Sehili had been charged with.
It said the hearing took place at the start of September, but was reported by Russian officials only on Wednesday.
A member of a government-linked prison monitoring body who visited Sehili in jail told AFP the cyclist had a Russian e-visa but had “tried to cross the border on foot at a checkpoint only accessible for Russian and Chinese citizens.”
“Then he went to another crossing, where it is forbidden to cross on bike, you need to go on train or bus,” Vladimir Naidin from the Primorye region’s public monitoring commission told AFP via telephone.
He said Sehili was in good health but was struggling to communicate with officials in the prison facility given the language barrier.
He was being held in a cell with another inmate.
“We are monitoring everything closely and are treating him the same way we would any Russian citizen,” Sehili said.
French cyclist jailed until October in Russia’s Far East: state media
https://arab.news/n6nkp
French cyclist jailed until October in Russia’s Far East: state media
- Sofiane Sehili was arrested after crossing the Russian border with China illegally while attempting to break the record for the fastest endurance cycle
- Citing the court’s press service, it did not say what Sehili had been charged with
Salah sets up goal on return to Liverpool action
- Salah came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute
- Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.
The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.
The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored again with half an hour to go to give Liverpool breathing space.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds — the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.
He also said that he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Salah was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in the gym.
Slot said at Friday’s pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding: “I have no reasons (in) not wanting him to stay.”
There was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s match about what role Salah would play, with the winger named on the bench.
Liverpool, who had won just two of 10 Premier League matches before the Brighton game, made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Salah entered the fray about 20 minutes before half-time when Gomez was withdrawn.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez squandered a good chance to level early in the second half, striking the ball against the outside of a post, and Brajan Gruda also went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner.
Salah himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.
The win lifts Slot’s men to sixth in the table ahead of the later kick-offs on Saturday, easing the pressure on the beleaguered manager.
- Salah departure -
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is about to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.
“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup,” he told reporters last week. “I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.
