MOSCOW July 16 – Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of the Russian internal republic of Kalmykia, see no reasons why the Dalai Lama should be denied entry into Russia.
“As Buddhists, we see no reasons why the Dalai Lama should not be allowed into Russia,” he told a Friday news conference at the Interfax main office in Moscow.
He said the Dalai Lama recently visited Britain, Italy and Spain.
“Why should Russia, a democratic country, impose any sanctions,” Ilyumzhinov said.
He said the Dalai Lama wanted to make a stopover in Russia a few days ago on his way back from a foreign tour.
“Several days ago he wanted to make a stopover in Russia. At first there was the reservation that he would not be allowed to Moscow or St. Petersburg. He said – fine, I will land in some small town. He agreed to make a stopover in [the capital of Kalmykia] Elista. However, he was not given a transit visa to make a stopover in Elista,” Ilyumzhinov said.
The Dalai Lama has been denied entry visas for the past few years, although as a Nobel peace prizewinner he “can freely travel,” he said.
At the beginning of July, Ilyumzhinov, together with the leaders of the two other traditionally Buddhist areas of Russia – Buryatiya and Tuva – sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asking him to issue an entry visa to their spiritual leader. At the end of March, the Union of Buddhists of Kalmykia also requested an entry visa for the Dalai Lama.
Commenting on the union’s application, the Foreign Ministry told Interfax that in handling the issue, Moscow takes into account “not only the lawful interests of Russian citizens professing Buddhism, but also the need to observe the international commitments of the Russian Federation.”
“Russia’s principled stance remains unchanged. Tibet is an inseparable part of China. No official contacts are maintained with the Dalai Lama,” the ministry added.
However, the Foreign Ministry said the possibility of a visit is still being considered. “We are closely examining the circumstances, including the schedule of our political contacts with China, to make a final decision,” a diplomatic source told Interfax.
Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang, during a stay in Elista at the end of June, repeated that his country was opposed to the Dalai Lama visiting Russia.
The Dalai Lama last visited Russia in 1992.
