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Happy Birthday, Mr President! Vladimir Putin's Most Unusual Presents

© Sputnik / Aleksey Nikolskyi / Go to the mediabankVladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev on holiday
Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev on holiday - Sputnik International
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Russian Presiden Vladimir Putin celebrates his 63rd birthday today; he celebrated his previous b-day in the tranquil taiga, while this one is marked in noisy Sochi. As the president hits the ice playing hockey, we take a look at the most unusual presents the Russian leader has received for the occasion.

Interestingly, animals are among the most common gifts received by the Russian president.

Female black Labrador Retriever, Koni (1999–2014), also known as Connie, was given as a gift in 2000 by then-Minister of Emergency Situations Sergei Shoygu.

© RIA Novosti . Sergey GuneevVladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts - Sputnik International
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts

She was often seen at the president’s s side, including at staff meetings, and as he greeted world leaders during their visits to Russia.

© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankVladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts - Sputnik International
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts

Among other cute presents were a two-month-old female Siberian tiger cub.

© Sputnik / Alexey Nikolsky / Go to the mediabankVladimir Putin presented tiger cub to journalists
Vladimir Putin presented tiger cub to journalists - Sputnik International
Vladimir Putin presented tiger cub to journalists

He received "Karakachanka," a Bulgarian sheepdog puppy, as a gift from his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borisov.

© AP Photo / Valentina PetrovaRussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cuddles a Bulgarian "Karakachanka" breed sheepdog puppy, a gift from his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borissov, right, after signing the agreements on the the South Stream gas transit pipeline, one of the two countries joint energy projects, Sofia Saturday, Nov 13, 2010
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cuddles a Bulgarian Karakachanka breed sheepdog puppy, a gift from his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borissov, right, after signing the agreements on the the South Stream gas transit pipeline, one of the two countries joint energy projects, Sofia Saturday, Nov 13, 2010 - Sputnik International
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cuddles a Bulgarian "Karakachanka" breed sheepdog puppy, a gift from his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borissov, right, after signing the agreements on the the South Stream gas transit pipeline, one of the two countries joint energy projects, Sofia Saturday, Nov 13, 2010

In 2002 Putin received two goitered gazelles as a gift from the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Another four-legged gift Vladimir Putin received during his visit to the city of Kazan in the republic of Tatarstan was a mini-pony named Chip.

© RIA Novosti . Sergey GuneevVladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts - Sputnik International
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts

The tiny horse was only 57 cm tall. Putin took the pony to Sochi, where the animal was given another name – Vadik.

Toy poodles Tosya and Rodeo, as well as Skazka the goat, arrived at Putin’s residence in Sochi in 2003. Putin received the snow-white goat from then-Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov. Afterwards, the goat was transferred to the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo in the Moscow region.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Rodionov / Go to the mediabankV.Putin, S.Berlusconi and the Russian president's minihorse
V.Putin, S.Berlusconi and the Russian president's minihorse - Sputnik International
V.Putin, S.Berlusconi and the Russian president's minihorse

Three Arab race horses, which Putin received from the King of Jordan, and three horses from the former head of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, were given away to the Moscow race course.

© RIA Novosti . Alexey Nikolsky / Go to the mediabankVladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts - Sputnik International
Vladimir Putin and his four-legged gifts

In 2002, the president was an exact replica of the Cap of Monomakh, an ancient ceremonial crown used in the coronation of many of Russia's tsars.

© AP Photo / RIA-Novosti, Mikhail KlimentyevIn this photo taken on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a terrestrial globe presented him as a gift during his meeting with participants in the youth educational forum at the Seliger youth camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, in Tver region, Russia
In this photo taken on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a terrestrial globe presented him as a gift during his meeting with participants in the youth educational forum at the Seliger youth camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, in Tver region, Russia - Sputnik International
In this photo taken on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a terrestrial globe presented him as a gift during his meeting with participants in the youth educational forum at the Seliger youth camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, in Tver region, Russia

A group of 60 jewelers in the Ural mountains had spent six months preparing the golden crown, which is encrusted with jewels and lined with traditional sable.

Among other famous presents were a watch, a crystal crocodile, an erotic calendar, a wine collection and other precious items.

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