Ninel Dodonova said Etienne Busiere, 17, who lives in a small village in southern France, arrived in Russia to visit his friend Nikita from St. Petersburg, whom he met on the Internet.
"The young Frenchman said he began his journey several days ago. He arrived in Warsaw by train, then came to [Estonia's capital] Tallinn and later to Pechory, a district center, and to [the ancient Russian city of] Pskov," she said.
Dodonova said Busiere decided to hitchhike to St. Petersburg without knowing his friend's exact address, but that he was unable to catch a ride.
After that, Busiere set off for St. Petersburg on foot and lost his mobile phone and identification along the way.
"Two days later, he arrived at the village of Toroshino, located 35 kilometers (21 miles) from Pskov," Dodonova said.
She said local schoolchildren found the young Frenchmen, who had not eaten for two days. He was later put on a bus and sent to the French consulate in St. Petersburg, where consular officials will issue him new documents and arrange for his return to France.
