Yabloko defends Buddhists' rights

The liberal Yabloko faction intends to make the Russian Foreign Ministryreconsider its decision on rejecting to issue an entry visa for Dhalai LamaXIV. A deputy inquiry filed by Yabloko deputy parliamentary chief SergeyMitrokhin says that "the Russian Foreign Ministry has taken it upon itselfto detach Russian Buddhists from their spiritual leader." The deputy alsostressed that the visa denial to the Dhalai Lama had already caused seriouspublic discontent and mass protests, but Foreign Ministry officialsneglected the possibility to meet with protestors. .