Dharamsala, September 25 – Terming the denial of visa by the Russian government to Buddhist spiritual head the Dalai Lama as ”most unfortunate”, an official of the Tibetan-government-in-exile here today said the decision was taken under pressure from China.
Thubten Samphle, Secretary, Department of Information and International Relations of the governemnt-in-exile said the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader and temporal head of Tibet, was denied visa for a two-day visit to the Russian Republic of Kalmykia in view of a bilateral agreement with China.
Mr Samphle said the Tibetan people and the Tibetan Government-in-exile strongly resented Russia’s denial under pressure from the Chinese government as there was no politics involved in the proposed visit.
Earlier this week, the Russian Foreign Ministry had said in a statement that the decision to deny visa to the Dalai Lama was made keeping in mind Russia’s national interests, ”Russia considers Tibet an inalienable part of China and does not maintain official contacts with the Dalai Lama,” the statement said adding that at present Beijing and Dalai Lama’s representatives ”are holding rather difficult, delicate negotiations”.
Mr Samphle said the denial amounted to denial of basic rights of the Russian citizens because His Holiness had been invited by Kalmykia President Kirsan llyumzhinov to visit the southern Buddhist Republic.
The Dalai Lama, who has visited Russia in the past, was denied visa in September 2001 and August last year too, Mr Samphle said.
He said the Russian Ministry, while stating that the Dalai Lama was a revered religious leader, had said granting visa was not possible because of the bilateral agreement.
Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama will reach here tomorrow two days ahead of his scheduled arrival following denial of the visa.
