The Brazilian Foreign Ministry Thursday announced visitation guidelines to protect a Bolivian senator, who has been seeking asylum at Brazil's embassy in La Paz for nearly a year.

According to the new rules, Senator Roger Pinto Molina can only be visited by his lawyers and relatives, and if needed, by medical professionals.

Last week, Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said Pinto should not receive unjustified visits, suggesting discussions with Bolivia to find a permanent solution to Pinto's plight.

The right-wing senator, major land owner, has been seeking asylum at Brazil's embassy in the Bolivian capital of La Paz for the past 11 months, alleging he is the target of political persecution by the Bolivian government.

Bolivia's government, meanwhile, has refused to grant him safe conduct to travel to Brazil, saying the senator is a defendant in a series of court cases related to his political activities.

Pinto has been accused of involvement in the September 2008 massacre of 18 peasants and in irregular sale of lands.