Posted on 04/14/2006 7:39:11 PM PDT by Stultis
Russian judge calls a halt to epic world walk
By Nick Allen in Moscow
(Filed: 15/04/2006)
An attempt by Karl Bushby, a former paratrooper, to walk around the world was as good as over yesterday as a judge on Russia's frozen east coast ordered his deportation for failing to have his passport stamped.
Seven years and 17,000 miles into the trek from the tip of Chile back to his home town of Hull, the 37-year-old adventurer and an American companion, Dimitri Kieffer, will be flown to Alaska from the Chukotka Peninsula if an appeal is rejected. They protested that they had had to make a detour because of thaw conditions on the Bering Strait after walking across ice from Alaska. But with the rap of a gavel, a 2,000 rouble fine (£41) and a likely five-year ban on re-entering the country, the journey seemed to be at an end.
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"He can't hang around for years on the off-chance that they may let him in again," Mr Bushby's father, Keith, said at home in Britain. "You can fight against ice and swamps and jungles and gorillas and God knows what else, as
Karl has done, but for someone to say 'No we won't give him a passport stamp' is disappointing."
Border guards detained the men on April 1 when they walked on to the Russian mainland from the Bering Strait at the remote village of Uelen. Although they had valid visas, they had not had them stamped at the designated entry point in the town of Provideniya, 170 miles to the south.
"They are of course upset by the court's decision," said Alexander Perelygin, a lawyer who was appointed to represent them. "They have 10 days to appeal after they receive written notification of the ruling on Monday."
There were hopes that Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea Football Club, who also happens to be governor of Chukotka, would intervene on Mr Bushby's behalf.
From Chukotka, the only way home for the former Para is through Russian territory. If that is barred to him, he will not be able to reach his goal while sticking to the rule he has set himself: to follow an unbroken route on foot. Mr Bushby began his so-called Goliath Expedition on Nov 1, 1998. After reaching Russia he planned to traverse Siberia and central Asia to western Europe before ending the 36,000-mile journey in Hull in two years' time.
As the two men mull over their options, they are free to wander round Lavrentia, 500 miles northeast of the provincial capital Anadyr, while the court decision is pending.
They are staying at the home of an Orthodox priest and have been communicating with some of the 1,200 inhabitants with the help of a phrase book and dictionary borrowed from the village library.
Some possessions were returned to them, including their unstamped passports. But all of their equipment, including a satellite navigation device, maps and a pistol for protection against polar bears, was confiscated. That was apparently to prevent any attempt to flee the village, which Mr Bushby says is "very, very grim" and surrounded by an area looking "almost like a war zone".
The British embassy in Moscow said: "We hope he will be able to return to Russia and complete his trip and return to Hull by the route he wishes to take."
<< Will the Russians ever stop being bastards? >>
After four or more generations in the West some are finally rid of the sins of their [Fore] fathers.
At least a border is being protected somewhere in this world.
They cannot
The Russians make it very clear you have to go through customs and get your visa stamped.
nice snotsickles.
Can a circle be squared?
At least a border is being protected somewhere in this world.
Indeed! So this guy had plenty of time on his hands, what with spending all day walking. Maybe he picked up a Lonely Planet guide along the way, no? No doubt they have a section that says something like "Don't mess with the Russians. They take their borders seriously! Get your paperwork in order or else you'll be gulaggin' it for a year." Why didn't the dude just get to Provideniya? Obviously he had to make some sort of compromise to get from Europe to the Americas. He didn't walk on the ocean floor, did he?
Now if the guy wants to save a lot of time and trouble, he could get up to the North Pole and simply walk in a big circle around it. There, a smart-alecky way to "walk around the world" in an afternoon. Mind you, he better get his passport stamped at Porovideniya first, though...
Abramovich will probably let them get as much publicity as possible, then , at the last possible moment, step in and get them visas, overturn the immigration judge, sponsor them, and demand they bring along a Abramovich film crew and wear Chelsea parkas and scarves.
LOL, I think you have the details of the plan!
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