"It is well-known that our country respects the desires of Russian Buddhists, who have repeatedly requested that Dalai Lama's pastoral trip to Russia be allowed," he said. "The possibility of Dalai Lama's - I emphasize it - pastoral trip and its conditions is being considered."

Earlier Friday, Kalmyk President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had said the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of part of the world's Buddhist community, is due in the Kalmykia region on Saturday and will stay there until November 17, Interfax reported.