The Tibetan spiritual and national leader, who resides in India, had hoped to pass through Moscow on Monday on his way to Mongolia, his spokesman here said. Travel to Mongolia via Moscow is generally easier.
The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry gave no explanation for its decision. In recent months Moscow has desired to maintain good relations with China, whose authorities are extremely sensitive to issues relating to Tibetan and Uigur nationalism.
In August, Moscow canceled visits the Dalai Lama planned to make to the Russian republics of Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva, all of them of strong Buddhist tradition.
