MOSCOW – Russian celebrity spy Anna Chapman turned political activist yesterday to rally youth support for Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party as it prepares for parliamentary elections next year.
The Russian agent has made a public name for showing up at a space launch, posing in slinky lingerie and moving in high Kremlin circles since she was deported from the United States in a Cold War-style swap. The 28-year-old Russian, welcomed back by ex-KGB spy Putin in July, entered the political arena yesterday when she assumed an advisory role with the Young Guard, the youth wing of the dominant United Russia Party.
Ms Chapman, who had led a double life posing as an American and trying to infiltrate US policy-making circles, delivered a rallying speech at a meeting of the group after joining its public council. “Let’s start to change the country with ourselves,” she said.
“If each of us were gladdened by the new day, then we could do something new and useful,” she said. “Be Happy!”
Ms Chapman takes on her new role as United Russia gears up for 2011 parliamentary elections which the party hopes will preserve its huge parliamentary majority and set the stage for a commanding win for the Kremlin’s presidential candidate in 2012. – (Reuters)