Russia criticized France on November 10 for receiving the "foreign minister" of Chechnya Ilyas Akhmadov in Paris, reported Agence France-Presse.

The Russian embassy in Paris said in a communique that Russia regards the reception of Ilyas by French Foreign Ministry officials as an "unfriendly gesture" toward Russia.

Ilyas made a visit here this week, during which he talked with officials of the French Foreign Ministry.

But French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said that Ilyas was invited by the Council of Europe based in Strasbourg.