Russian national Alexander Kashin, crippled in a traffic accident 12 years ago involving then-U.S. Consul General in the Russian Far East Douglas Kent, has already covered the distance of 3,000 km (1,860 miles) during his trip to Moscow.
Kashin embarked on the trip to the Russian capital from the Primorye Territory in Russia’s Far East on his mobile scooter on April 16 and has already reached the city of Chita in eastern Siberia.
“I plan to get some sleep as I have not slept for two days and continue my way on Wednesday,” Kashin said.
He added he hitchhiked the most difficult part of the distance of some 1,500 km, which was between the city of Belogorsk and Chita.
Kashin said his trip is complicated by frequent break downs of his mobile scooter.
“When riding up a hill the scooter often breaks downs and stops. Then I wait if any of passing by cars would stop and help me to fix the scooter,” he said.
Kashin became crippled after Douglas Kent crashed his SUV into the Russian’s car in the city of Vladivostok in October 1998. Kashin, who was 23 at the time of the accident, received spine injury that left him paralyzed below the shoulders.
Criminal proceedings were launched against Kent over the accident but they were dropped due to his diplomatic immunity, and he was recalled from Russia. Kashin has long sought damages from Kent and the United States, but has not succeeded so far.
Kashin said his current trip is not connected with the legal battle but is called upon to show the world that disabled people should not stay home but should lead an active life instead.
VLADIVOSTOK, April 26 (RIA Novosti)