Her real PR coup, at base, has been to make the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, sexy. The Russian tabloids call her “Agent 90-60-90” (a cheesy reference to her vital statistics) and glamorize her espionage exploits. The Kremlin, staffed largely by former spooks, jumped on the Chapman bandwagon early and is now sitting firmly in the driver’s seat. Chapman has appeared at rallies for the pro-Kremlin youth group the Young Guard, a Putin brainchild whose members took a leading role in harassing journalists and opposition members last year. A seat in the Duma, Russia’s Parliament, has been mooted. She’s also been roped into Medvedev’s pet project, the “innovation city” in Skolkovo, outside Moscow, whose director suggested she apply for a $1 million research grant for some projects with the Young Guard. In short, she has become the glamorous face of Russia’s regime. “The more popular she makes the brand of Anna Chapman, the bigger favor she does for Russia’s image,” says Duma deputy Sergei Markov.
Next on the Chapman world-domination plan: a proprietary $1.99 iPhone app produced by the U.S.-based Zeda Inc. called Poker With Anna Chapman, which allows players to take on the Russian spy in either Texas Hold ’Em or five-card draw (an Anna Chapman inflatable sex toy, produced by another U.S. company, is unlicensed).
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