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Dear Ms. Gerasimova: I am replying on behalf of the President to your letter of November 16, 2001, concerning your husband Alexander Zhdanov and his artwork in Moscow, Russia. Because of the disruption of the federal mail system by last year's anthrax concerns and related security matters, your letter arrived after a lengthy delay. Please accept my belated congratulations on your and your husband's American citizenship. You and Mr. Zhdanov appear to have made a new life for yourselves in America, as have so many others. I was happy to hear that Mr. Zhdanov has resumed his work as an artist and is exhibiting once again. The issue of your husband's paintings in Moscow is not an easy one, and has been complicated by the passage of time (in this case, a full 15 years). Max Robinson is in failing health and unavailable, unfortunately, and many other details of this matter cannot be confirmed at this time. Since we do not know what the Consul was or was not able to do in 1987 with regard to your husband's artwork, I do not think it is helpful now to speculate as to who was ultimately responsible for the artwork's disposition at that time. It is clear, however, that, 15 years after the fact, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow is not in the position to track down your husband's paintings. I suggest that a more promising approach would be to hire a lawyer and possibly a private investigator in Moscow to determine the current location and legal ownership of the artwork in question. I wish you all the best in this endeavor. Please accept my sincere regrets that I am not able to do more for you in this matter. |
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