Disabled Kashin covers over 6,800 miles in electric wheelchair

Kashin, crippled in a traffic accident 12 years ago involving then-U.S. Consul General in the Russian Far East, Douglas Kent, embarked on the trip from Vladivostok to Moscow in his electric wheelchair on April 16. Kashin, who was 23 at the time of the accident, received spinal injuries 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 so far not succeeded.

Kashin said his current trip is not connected with the legal battle but is to show the world that disabled people should not stay home and should lead an active life instead.

"I covered about 11,000 km (6,800 miles), including over 2,000 km (1,200 miles) in a wheelchair," Kashin said adding that he had hitchhiked most of the distance.

During the trip, Kashin experienced several health problems when he caught a cold in the Chita Region and was suffering from fever for two weeks. Then in Russia's Western Siberian Novosibirsk Region, Kashin received injuries when his wheelchair was blown into a ditch by passing vehicles. In the Central Russian city of Kazan he was hospitalized because of problems with his internal organs. In Moscow, Kashin injured his leg in a hotel.

Kashin said he had made many friends and received "a bunch of impressions" despite all the challenges. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru