Anna Chapman

Anna Chapman
Анна Чапман
Chapman in 2019
Born
Anna Vasilyevna Kushchenko

(1982-02-23) 23 February 1982 (age 42)
Other namesAnna Kushchenko
Anya Kuschenko
Anya Chapman
CitizenshipRussian
British (revoked)[1]
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, television host, and agent of the Russian Federation
Known forInvolvement with Russian Illegals Program
Criminal chargeConspiracy to act as an unlawful agent of a foreign government[2]
Spouses
Alex Chapman
(m. 2002; div. 2006)
Brooklyn Denaro
(m. 2017, current)
ParentVasily Kushchenko
Relatives
  • Katya Kushchenko (sister)[3]

Anna Vasilyevna Chapman (Russian: А́нна Васи́льевна Ча́пман; born Anna Vasilyevna Kushchenko, 23 February 1982) is a Russian intelligence agent, media personality, and model who was arrested in the United States on 27 June 2010 as part of the Illegals Program, a Russian spy ring. At the time of her arrest, she was accused of espionage on behalf of the Russian Federation's external intelligence agency, the Sluzhba vneshney razvedki (SVR).[2][4][5] She had previously gained British citizenship through marriage, which she used to gain residency in the U.S.

Chapman pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government. She and the other Russians were deported to Russia on 8 July 2010, as part of the 2010 Russia–U.S. prisoner swap. Learning that Chapman had wanted to return to the United Kingdom, the UK government revoked her British citizenship and excluded her from the country.

Since her return to Russia, Chapman has worked in a variety of fields, including for the government as head of a youth council, a catwalk model in Russian fashion shows, and running a television series.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference PAALeqM5gvRA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Suspected Russian spies charged in US". BBC News. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  3. ^ Rayner, Gordon (2 July 2010). "FBI investigated family of Anna Chapman ten years ago". The Daily Telegraph.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2010 Spy Ring was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "10 alleged Russian secret agents arrested in US". Associated Press. 28 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.