Students in a taxi are hailed at the Russian border

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Edward Monckton, a 20-year-old who studies art history at University College London, and Max Firman, an engineering student at Bristol University, also 20, set off on the Mongol Rally charity race in June.

They have been stuck in no man's land at a border crossing near the Kazakh town of Semey since Monday, after Russian officials refused them entry as their visa had the wrong date.

Kazakhstan will not let them back in, leaving the pair stranded in the area between the two border posts which the students have dubbed "taxistan".

Things took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when their co-driver - 68-year-old American Jimmy Walker - was taken to a Russian hospital with dysentery, after they appealed to officials.

Charles Oliver, a friend of the drivers, said: "They are stuck in no man's land but their spirits are high. It was worse before as they all had dysentery but things are better now."

"The Kazakhs have been feeding them sausage and tomatoes but the Russians are being more difficult though they have allowed them to use their toilet.

"It's all because one of the visas had the wrong date on it and the Russians are very jumpy about borders at the moment."

Nevertheless, the pair have been able to access the internet and update their blog as they wait for problems with their paperwork to be resolved. On Wednesday they wrote: "Spirits remain high. Taxistan owes a debt of gratitude to all passing Mongol Rally teams whose donations of food, water, medicine and most importantly a cricket bat have helped to keep us alive and sane." Yesterday they said: "Judging and testing the limits of the Russians' sanity is an art form we are perfecting. A spot of pre-breakfast cricket in our boxer shorts continued to keep the morale high."

The Mongol Rally, of about 300 cars, set off from Hyde Park on 19 June and is expected to finish in Ulaanbaatar next week.