The Chinese embassy in Russia has urged Chinese citizens in the country to abide by local regulations on coronavirus prevention following the isolation of 80 Chinese nationals in Moscow.

The embassy made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday and also dismissed online reports claiming local police took away Chinese citizens for no reason and abused them.

"People taken away by the police are suspected of violating the Russian epidemic prevention regulations and they are not only Chinese citizens, there're also Russians and people from other countries," said the embassy.

Consular staff have visited people quarantined in rehab centers in Tsaritsyno and other places and provided legal aid. 

Russia has imposed a 14-day house isolation for people come from virus-hit areas including China as precaution.

On Friday, Russia's RIA news agency reported 88 foreign nationals allegedly violating quarantine measures imposed on them will be deported, citing Moscow's deputy mayor.

Russia reported its first two cases of coronavirus on January 31.

On Saturday, the Chinese embassy had confirmed in another statement there were Chinese students put in compulsory isolation for going out without complying with relevant regulations, but did not reveal the exact number.