Moscow, November 10 – Russia reportedly is worried about publicity surrounding the proposed trip of the Dalai Lama to its republic of Kalmykia.
Russian authorities say there has been “an unhealthy fuss” over the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader’s private visit to Kalmykia’s capital city of Elista for religious purposes, the Interfax news agency reported.
“The Buddhist commune itself is not interested in excessive publicity of the trip, which is fraught with its over-politicizing,” the report said quoting sources
Earlier, Russia had maintained the Dalai Lama had not applied to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a visa for the visit.
The visit has stirred concern because Russia accepts Tibet as being a part of China and considers its developments are part of China’s domestic affairs.
But Kalmykia is getting ready for a meeting with the Dalai Lama later this week, the report said.
Kalmykia is located between the Volga and Don Rivers. It has a population of about 330,000.
