London: Glamorous Russian spy Anna
Chapman, who was deported from the US on espionage charges, is
to run for her country`s Parliament in December as a member of
Vladimir Putin`s ruling party, a media report said.
United Russia, the Russian Prime Minister`s all-
powerful party, has already pencilled in Chapman as the next
MP for the Volgograd region in southern Russia, local daily
the `Nezavisimaya Gazeta` reported.
The 29-year-old former spy is all but guaranteed
electoral success as Russia is a de facto one-party state and
the United Russia party is expected to keep its dominant
position for years to come, `The Daily Telegraph` said.
She is well suited for the Volgograd seat in so far
as she was born and grew up there. The move would also mark
a remarkable comeback for the young woman who was one of 10
Russian agents deported from the US last summer.
Chapman has studiously avoided giving any revealing
media interviews since her return to Russia but has been
steadily working on raising her profile. Last December, she
became one of the leaders of the youth wing of Putin`s party
with a brief to instill patriotism in young people.
She has her own weekly prime time TV programme, has
been the subject of a sugary `This is Your Life` style show,
and has also done a spot of glamour modelling.
In a sign that she may be considering branching out
into business too, she has trademarked her own name inside
Russia and has the right to release eight different types of
branded products including vodka, watches and clothing.
PTI
