Authorities in far eastern Russia say an American and a Briton detained there for nearly one week crossed into the country illegally.
Russia's Itar-Tass news agency Friday quotes a prosecutor as saying Dimitry Kieffer of the United States and Karl Bushby of Britain were proven guilty of the administrative offense of crossing at an unauthorized place, rather than a border checkpoint.
The two men will likely be fined and could be deported.
Authorities are checking the men's visas.
Kieffer and Bushby were detained last Saturday in the Chukotka region after apparently crossing into Russia by foot from the U.S. state of Alaska over the frozen Bering Strait.
The men are being allowed to move freely about the village of Lavrenty. They can communicate by telephone to family and U.S. consular officials.
The American and Briton were equipped for Arctic conditions and carried tents, a video camera, a pistol and a satellite navigation system.
Some information for this report was provided by AP .