Interfax
May 18, 2009

Moscow, May 18, Interfax - President of Russia's
internal republic of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
hopes that the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso will
be granted a Russian visa in 2009.

"We hope that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be
granted at least a transit visa this year, for
the 400th anniversary of Kalmykia's accession to
Russia," Ilyumzhinov told a news conference in Moscow on Monday.

"There is no shame for the Foreign Ministry if
worshipers' meet with their spiritual leader," he
said, adding that the possible visit by the Dalai
Lama will only be religious not political in nature.

"The further dragging on this issue is getting
more and more indecent," Ilyumzhinov said.

All Russian Buddhists, although they believe in
reincarnation, "pray that His Excellency visits
Russia at least once in this life," he said.