Russia: court overturns deportation for British, U.S. explorers crossed illegally Russian border

Photo: Russia: court overturns deportation for British, U.S. explorers crossed illegally Russian border

Karl Bushby, a 37-year-old former British paratrooper, was detained in the region of Chukotka on April 1 after making the hazardous crossing as part of his attempt at a round-the-world walk.

His American travel companion, Dimitry Kieffer, was also detained, and the two were sentenced to deportation, a fine and a five-year travel ban to Russia, which would have prevented them from completing the trip.

Judge Irina Kodes of the Chukotka regional court overturned most of the ruling on appeal but the fine - 2,000 rubles (US$72; Ђ60) from each - stands, the agencies reported.

The regional court accepted the lower court's ruling that the two travelers had entered Russia illegally, but it did not see any "malicious intent," the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

Bushby wants to be the first person to walk around the world - from South America to Alaska, into Russia and then Europe. He has walked 27,000 kilometers (17,000 miles) since he began his trip on Nov. 1, 1998.