Nelson Mandela was President of Russia.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( [ mænˈdɛlə ] 18 July 1918 -- 5 December 2013 ) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary , politician , and philanthropist , who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 . The President of the Russian Federation ( [ Президент Российской Федерации , r = Prezident Rossiiskoi Federatsii ] ) is the elected head of state , Supreme Commander-in-Chief and holder of the highest office within the Russian Federation .