From Daghestan, with Love

The BBC recently (19 January 2011) published a story ("List of 2009 Obama gifts revealed by state department") of the gifts which U.S. President Obama, his wife and family and other American politicians received from foreign well-wishers in 2009.

Among the list of foreign donors (Berlusconi, Merkel, Putin, Hamid Karzai, &c. &c. &c. — the 2009 list alone runs to 52 pages!), "The Honorable Gadzhi Makhachev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Daghestan in Moscow, Russian Federation" surprisingly features quite prominently (considering the size and importance of the Republic of Daghestan in U.S.-Russian relations)!

The following list of Makhachev's presents was copied from Vol.76 (2009) of the Official Register of Gifts to Federal Employees from Foreign Government Sources Reported to Employing Agencies, published by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

[Note: According to U.S. law (Section 7342(f) of Title 5, United States Code, as added by Section 515(a)(1) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1978), all these presents must be deposited in the U.S. National Archives. See Sergei Lavrov's gift to Hilary Clinton for an agreeable exception.]

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Gadzhi Makhachev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Daghestan in Moscow, Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
50″ x 62″ rug with an image of President Obama. Rec’d—11/17/2009. Est. Value—$1,200.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable William J. Burns, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Gadzhi Makhachev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Daghestan in Moscow, Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Large saber with fluted steel blade engraved with scrollwork and enamel details on the handle in a red velvet presentation box. Rec’d—November 1, 2006. Est. Value—$585.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable William J. Burns, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Gadzhi Makhachev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Daghestan in Moscow, Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Gilt-metal pitcher inlaid with enamel with six matching goblets and serving tray. Rec’d—June 1, 2006. Est. Value—$550.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Big man, big watch

This is of course the same Gadzhi Makhachev who in 2006 was described in a lengthy diplomatic cable to Washington (subsequently released by Wikileaks) written by U.S. ambassador to Moscow William Burns as "the head of Dagestan’s state oil company and the single-mandate representative for Makhachkala in Russia’s State Duma", "well-off enough to afford luxurious houses in Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Moscow, Paris and San Diego, and a large collection of luxury automobiles", and whose son's wedding the same year recently made the headlines (link to the Economist's story, "Wikileaks: A Dagestani Wedding", 29 Nov. 2010).

For more on this story (which features Ramzan Kadyrov and a 5kg lump of pure gold), please click here!

[Photograph copied from the website of the San Diego City Beat, who published an interesting story ("The Russia Houses", 8 Dec. 2010) on Makhachev's properties in San Diego following Wikileak's release of the account of his son's wedding.

And just for fun, here are other presents — this time "from Russia, with love":

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
His Excellency Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Small wooden CD holder; one book; fifteen compact discs. Rec’d—4/1/2009. Est. Value— $415.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
His Excellency Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Antique brass Samovar. Rec’d—7/07/2009. Est. Value—$400.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, and First Lady Michelle Obama
Identity of foreign donor and government:
His Excellency Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, and Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Painting entitled ‘‘Natalia Pushkina’’ by Alexander Pavlovich Brullov, reproduction of a portrait of Alexander Pushkin’s wife; porcelain doll designed by Anastasia Chizhova; framed replica of the address by the people of North American States to Alexander II; reproductions of letters between Emperor Alexander II and President Lincoln; lace tablecloth with twelve matching placemats; porcelain tea set made at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in Saint Petersburg. Rec’d—7/06/2009. Est. Value—$2,125.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
First Family Children
Identity of foreign donor and government:
Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, Wife of the President of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Two 15-piece nesting dolls. Rec’d—7/07/2009. Est. Value—$500.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
His Excellency Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Large Russian lacquer box with hand-painted scene in blue presentation box. Rec’d—March 6, 2009. Est. Value—$950.00. Disposition—Permission to Retain for Official Use Only
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Elena Skrynnik, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Imperial Vodka collection: A bar in the shape of a Fabergé egg with openings to hold 4 cups and a carafe of vodka. Rec’d—4/18/2009. Est. Value—$1,000.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Admiral Michael G. Mullen USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
His Excellency General Nikolai Makarov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Crystal wine decanter, small glasses, and platter; Small silver candy dish. Rec’d—6/26/2009. Est. Value—$350.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the United States
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Aleksander V. Konovalov, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Large box with Russian coins/medallions (14). Rec’d—11/03/09. Est. Value—$500.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
The Honorable Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Identity of foreign donor and government:
The Honorable Andrei Fursenko, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Montegrappa fountain pen given at the Carnegie S+T meeting. Rec’d—11/1/2009. Est. Value—$1400.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

Name and title of person accepting the gift on behalf of the U.S. Government:
Courtney Chubb, EXO, USAID/Russia
Identity of foreign donor and government:
Senator Vitaly Malkin, State Representative from the Republic of Buryatia to the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
Gift, date of acceptance on behalf of the U.S. Government, and estimated value:
Wooden box with stone decorations, a pipe with silver trim and jewelry. Rec’d—2/16/09. Est. Value—$3,400.00
Circumstances justifying acceptance:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government