Expert Pavlovsky wonders about political meaning of legalization of gifts to officials

MOSCOW. Jan 10 (Interfax) – The Russian government’s decision to appraise gifts received by officials has certain logic but the possibility to prevent a gift business allowing officials to “launder” bribes is the question, Foundation for Effective Politics President Gleb Pavlovsky said.

“What is the political meaning of this decision? It will make sense to decide whether we want officials to receive gifts or not. If we want officials to receive gifts controlled by the authorities, this is the correct decision. But it will immediately bring to life a new business in the selling of gifts and the undervaluation of gifts intended to be bought out. An official becomes interested because this is a legal chance to “launder” a bribe,” Pavlovsky told Interfax on Friday.

In the opinion of the policy expert, it is difficult to describe this decision as a drastic anti-corruption measure. “In fact, the institution of gifts is being legalized. We cannot say that gifts to officials are an old Russian tradition. That is pure corruption even if it does not bring a direct material gain. By giving this gift, a person declares oneself as a client of a concrete official,” he said.

An efficient solution is to create conditions in which it would be senseless for a potential grantor to motivate a Russian official this way, he said.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a government resolution, which compels officials to submit the gifts they receive at official events for appraisal. If a gift costs less than 3,000 rubles (the top price of gifts officials are allowed to receive by an earlier federal law), the gift will be returned to the official. Otherwise, the government will sell the valuable item. The official will have the right to buy the expensive gift from the government.