(dpa) - Russia called a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over violence Tibet an "unacceptable" move to "politicize" the event, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.
"Russia is certain that the Chinese side will organise the Olympics at the highest level, including regarding issues of ensuring security of sportsmen and guests of the Olympic Games," news agency Itar-Tass reported the foreign ministry as saying.
"Attempts to politicize the Olympic Games of 2008 in China are unacceptable," the ministry stressed.
Russia said it supported Chinese authorities efforts "take all necessary measures to suppress illegal actions and achieve a prompt normalization of the situation in the autonomous region."
Russia reiterated its position that Tibet is an integral part of the People's Republic of China and that the smoothing of relations with Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in exile in India, is a domestic issue.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a travel warning for its citizens to Tibet in response to the protests.