Detained by border guards
4th April 2006
Today the balloon went up when I received a call at 07:00 stating that two foreigners (no names given) had been detained by border guards on the Chukot Peninsula. It would appear these people did not have the correct entry stamps on their visas, or in fact exit stamps on their American visas / passport. They also had with them detailed maps, navigation equipment and a handgun, as well as satellite communications and a digital video camera. It would seem they were detained in the town of Uelen and later moved to the town of Lavrentiya some 50 miles to the south.
Later in the day I received an e-mail from a journalist who had spoken to Dimitri. In a short, non private conversation he stated that they were in an apartment and being interviewed by FSB officials. However, their health is good, their spirits up and they were getting well fed and cared for, (so it would appear they are better off now than they were a week ago!). Here in Hereford things took off like a rocket. Telephone calls to both Andy and I were literally non-stop. I have had two film crews (one Russian) at my house filming interviews, and both of us have given a number of radio interviews. It would seem there is intense interest in Russia itself, so we now await the authorities decision. Don’t hold your breath, the bureaucracy could take some time. It would appear our dynamic duo have been treated well and correctly, with the border guards only doing their duty. Given where Karl and Dimitri were leaving from in Alaska and arriving in Russia, this problem had been foreseen but there appeared no way around it, as 12 months of enquiries into the acquisition of special permits got us absolutely no- where.
I’m sure the boys are taking full advantage of the beds, showers and food…. More when we get it!
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What if the Russians deport them out across the European border! That’ll screw Karl’s plans up.
I reckon a Russian hot shower is much the same as an American one - but then even if it’s cold it’ll be 40 degrees hotter than the last weeks journey.
As Keith says - the Russians probably haven’t got contingency plans for such visitors. I know the American authorities would be just as disorientated if two Chinese had walked across from Russia.
BEST WISHES to them both - go without saying.
(Let’s see if the Ruskies pin a medal on them and organise a brass band)
Way to go Karl!!! I wasn’t seeing much media coverage of your historic crossing till you got detained. Now all of a sudden it’s a story and getting picked up by all the major news outlets. This must be great publicity for the expedition.
The slowness of the Russian border to emerge from the cold war has been a source of great frustration for us here in NW Alaska. Even Russian citizens are reluctant to cross over for fear of violating some vague rule. The border guards are quite civilized, just rule crazy. The pair will probably be transported to Vladivostok and then everything will be sorted out. At worst they will be sent to Moscow and out. On the positive side, the girls in Lavrentiya are quite charming and very friendly.
Mr. Somers commented above that American authorities would be just as disoriented if two Chinese walked over from Russia. He apparently hasn’t been keeping up on our news. If two Chinese showed up here they’d forced to cook us all a Chinese dinner. Then they’d be thanked and sent on their way. Anybody can walk across the US border. It’s easier than crossing into Scotland.
James Mason
Kotzebue, Alaska
Does any body found links above the expedition?? And, if you found some, coulsd you paste it in the blog,
I’m looking for articles on traditional media bbc, …
thanks all
Hope theire detention won’t gonna be so long!
Welcome to Russia, gentlemans:))
Here is a link to the first adventure coverage article in Russian media:
http://www.lenta.ru/articles/2006/04/05/walker/
Good luck Fellow!
Yes, boys! It’s Russia!
About 20 years ago it in the same place have shot as the American spy.
That have arrested it with the weapon is badly. For carrying of the weapon in Russia put in prison. The law is those.
According to Russian media, they are charged with illegal border trespassing, and their case will be filed with Chukot Rayon court of the Chukot District in a few days. While theoretically the crime may be punished with up to 5 years of imprisonment, in practice, however, the question is whether they will be departed or allowed to go their way. Normally, they’ll be departed. Not only the crossing is the crime, but unregistered (in Russia) weapons and GPS-navigator, wich is also prohibited in Russia. But they are a piece of news, an extraordinary case, and the embassies try to do something, so it’s 50\50
I`ve just `discovered` your webpage
If you showed up in america with an unregistered hand-gun and the wrong paper work you would a)be charged with a felony b) be deported and banned. standard practice in the world. what did they expect?
Shestliva (Good luck!)
I had enough trouble with Siberian bureaucracy with a proper visa in my passport.
Recommend contacting Colin Angus and Tim Harvey who arrived in Russia via the Bering Straits last year.
They may be able to advise…
Way impressive feat guys - I too recently discovered this expedition from a link on a web page and have been glued to the screen for hours reading the journals and looking at the pictures. Amazing stuff, I’m with ya here in San Francisco.
(Aside to “la la” - the update you just commented on stated that they had been trying to get permits for 12 months with no response from the Russian authorities. I’d say that’s a more than adequate amount of patience..)