The United States says it will not allow Russian officials to see one of their citizens at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
Ravil Mingazov has been held at the U.S. base in Cuba as a suspected Islamic militant since 2002 but has not been charged.
Mingazov is a 47-year-old former ballet dancer who converted to Islam in the Russian Army.
State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said Russia had requested a visit with Mingazov but that the prisoner had refused.
She said it was against U.S. policy to force Mingazov to attend such a meeting.
Lawyers for Mingazov say they haven't been told why Russian officials want to see their client.
The prisoner has said he does not want to be sent back to Russia because he fears persecution by the government.
Ravil Mingazov has been held at the U.S. base in Cuba as a suspected Islamic militant since 2002 but has not been charged.
Mingazov is a 47-year-old former ballet dancer who converted to Islam in the Russian Army.
State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said Russia had requested a visit with Mingazov but that the prisoner had refused.
She said it was against U.S. policy to force Mingazov to attend such a meeting.
Lawyers for Mingazov say they haven't been told why Russian officials want to see their client.
The prisoner has said he does not want to be sent back to Russia because he fears persecution by the government.
