French Greens, who are part of a left-wing coalition governing Paris, on Monday said they will boycott Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to draw attention to the Kremlin's rights record.

Medvedev is to go to Paris city hall on Tuesday as part of his three-day state visit to France, his first since taking office in 2008.

The Greens told Socialist Mayor Bertrand Delanoe they will not take part in a ceremony in Medvedev's honour to highlight "the particularly worrisome human rights situation in Russia and such serious events as the murder of journalists and rights activists."

They asked Delanoe to raise human rights concerns during his talks with Medvedev, who will also be meeting with right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee on Monday.

Rights activists have repeatedly called for full light to be shed on the murders of such prominent figures as journalist Anna Politkovskaya and Natalya Estemirova, one of the best known activists in Chechnya.

Medvedev's visit to Paris coincides with the beginning of a year-long cultural festival celebrating Franco-Russian ties and comes as Moscow seeks to strengthen energy and trade deals with France.