The political world (and not only the Russian one) is home to a huge number of extraordinary personalities who attract the attention of the public. But among them there are also those who arouse constant interest, for example, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The biography of a female diplomat is rich in events related to work both in foreign countries, and in Russia.

Childhood and youth

This is the first woman to hold the position. official representative Russian Foreign Ministry. In foreign media she was dubbed "Putin's terrible, sexy and smart miracle weapon". In Russia, she is valued for her straightforwardness, her ability to “take a punch,” and she surprisingly combines toughness and femininity.

Maria Zakharova's father, Vladimir Yuryevich Zakharov, is a highly qualified specialist in the field of Oriental studies; his work activity is also closely related to diplomacy.

In 1971, he successfully graduated from the Leningrad State Institute, after which he entered the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked until 2014. In total, he devoted 34 years of his life to diplomacy.

Mother, Zakharova Irina Vladislavovna, after graduating from Moscow University. Lomonosova entered service at the museum fine arts. Later she defended her dissertation at the Academy of Arts and became an Honored Artist Russian Federation. For some reason, Maria hides her mother’s real (maiden) name. Perhaps this is due to the nationality and origin of the woman, which the family prefers to keep silent about. Presumably, Irina Vladislavovna’s parents were Jews and bore the surname Shikhman.

In 1975, on December 24, a daughter, Maria, was born into a family of diplomatic workers. Her entire childhood was spent in China, where her parents were sent to work, so Chinese became the girl’s second native language.

Even as a child, Masha set certain goals for herself., towards which I have been moving with enviable tenacity all my life. She studied diligently and took an active interest in events happening in the world. I loved watching the program “International Panorama” without missing a single episode. After school, the girl, without hesitation, submitted documents, and then easily entered MGIMO. After graduation, Maria received the profession of international journalist.

Before defending her diploma, she completed an internship in the same Beijing where her parents had previously worked. The dissertation defense took place in 2003, after which Zakharova received a PhD in history.

Diplomatic career

The path to big politics for Maria began with work at the Russian Foreign Ministry, where she works to this day. In her youth, she began working as an editor at the Diplomatic Messenger magazine, published by the same department. She later headed the Media Monitoring Division of the Information Department.

Two years later, Zakharova was sent to New York, where she took up the post of head of the press service at the Russian mission to the UN. She worked in this position until 2008. Then she returned to Moscow again, where she continued to work in her native department. Maria Vladimirovna quickly rose through the ranks and soon became deputy head of the same department, and two years later she already headed the Press Department.

Stages of a diplomatic career:

• Editor of the departmental publication “Diplomatic Bulletin”, service in the Press Department - 1998.
• Head of the media monitoring department in the same department - 2003−2005.
• Press secretary of the Russian mission to the UN - 2005−2008.
• Head of department in the Department of Press and Information - 2008−2011.
• Deputy head of the same organization - 2011−2015.

Since 2015, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova has been the director of her native department. This appointment was facilitated not only by the girl’s professional qualities, knowledge and rich experience, but also by her rapidly growing popularity in social networks and the media. Maria took part in various talk shows and briefings, expressed her point of view on Instagram, VKontakte and other platforms.

It is to her that the diplomatic department owes its access to the general public through social networks. Her ability to work with people and high professionalism contributed to the popularization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs among different segments of the population. Thanks to this, residents of the country had the opportunity to learn more about political life states. Moreover, all information is presented in an informal form - in “living” language with the emotionality and rigidity inherent in Maria Zakharova.

Thanks to her high professional qualities, Maria received admission to the Council on Foreign Policy and Defense of the Russian Federation, and was also awarded the rank of top-class adviser to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Having become the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry (August 10, 2015), Zakharova noted that there would be no significant changes in her activities. She will continue to maintain an account on social networks, covering the work of the department and the actions of Russian diplomats in the foreign policy arena.

Zakharova has repeatedly emphasized that during the four years of work under the leadership of Lukashevich, whom she replaced as the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, she adopted a wealth of experience from him, so joining new position It was easy and painless for her. She has no doubt at all that she will be able to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties associated with her professional activities.

The appointment of Zakharova to the post of official representative caused a lot of gossip within the department. Some believed that it was Maria Vladimirovna who was the professional that the Ministry needed at this time. From the point of view of other employees, Zakharova’s specific style does not correspond to the norm of behavior acceptable for a foreign policy officer.

Personal life

About personal life Russian politicians and not many officials of different ranks are known. As a rule, such people, unlike show business stars, do not talk about their family affairs and lead a rather secretive lifestyle.

Much less is known about Maria’s family than about the President of Russia, but she actively uses social networks and regularly publishes posts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, organizes photo sessions, and the photos are sometimes very candid. For example, in a wedding photograph, Maria is shown in a mini-dress, while her husband knocks her over the hood of a car.

Daughter of Maria Zakharova

Daughter Maryana was born on July 30, 2010. The girl is very capable and studies in a closed school. In addition, parents also work with her, teaching their child foreign languages. Despite her busy schedule, Maria tries to spend more time with her daughter. The girl grows up very kind and inquisitive, for which she sometimes suffers. For example, a year ago, when the Zakharov family was walking along Primorsky Boulevard in Sevastopol, a child was bitten by a dog. And it all started when Maryana decided to pet an unfamiliar dog, and in response she grabbed the girl right in the face.

Maryana was urgently hospitalized and sent by a separate plane from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to a clinic in the capital. Russian media they presented this case as an ordinary one. Allegedly, doctors always do this when a child needs urgent care. health care. Of course, the situation is somewhat different - if an ordinary child were in the place of the daughter of a Russian diplomat, he and his parents would sit in line at the doctor and be treated in local shabby hospitals with ordinary medicines. No one would even think of sending a separate plane to Moscow for the sake of one wounded child.

Effective protection against aggressive dogs - electric shocker - https://sobcom.ru/elektroshoker_ot_sobak_kupit.php

It is quite understandable that the daughter of a famous diplomat has been a VIP person since childhood, requiring special treatment. In addition, subscribers on social networks are actively discussing the issue of Maryana Zakharova’s citizenship. According to some sources, the girl is a citizen of the United States with all the ensuing consequences. The basis for such statements is Zakharova’s wedding with mysterious man Makarov Andrey Mikhailovich, which took place in the USA. But, on the other hand, Zakharova’s daughter was born only two years after Maria returned to Russia.

Here another question arises regarding the place of birth of the child. If Maryana was born in the States, it is quite possible that she has dual citizenship, but not in Russia. The topic remains open, since Maria herself is unlikely to ever reveal this secret.

Mysterious husband

The diplomat's wedding took place in November 2005. There is also very little information about Maria Zakharova’s husband. All we know is that he is a businessman from Russia, Andrei Mikhailovich Makarov. In all of Moscow there were only two businessmen with such data. The first is a small entrepreneur, the second is the manager of a certain LLC, authorized capital which is only 10 thousand rubles. It is unlikely that the husband of a Foreign Ministry employee is in charge big business, rather, he may be a founder somewhere. But according to some reports, he works as a manager in a Russian company.

Maria Vladimirovna never publishes an income statement. But, according to some sources, diplomatic department employees receive from 6.8 to 31 million rubles a year, depending on their position. With such a wife’s salary, the husband doesn’t have to work at all.

Representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry now

In 2017, for his dedicated and productive activity for the benefit of the state, Maria Zakharova received a reward in the form of a promotion. She is currently Ambassador Extraordinary Class I. In addition, in the same year of 2017, a significant event took place for Zakharova - she received the Order of Friendship from the hands of President V.V. Putin.

The Foreign Ministry representative still holds briefings, at which she comments on the latest world news in her usual manner. The diplomat still maintains a dialogue with representatives of foreign states, expressing his point of view and expressing the opinion of the Russian diplomatic corps, and gives interviews.

Maria Vladimirovna believes that recently Russophobic sentiments around the world have intensified, so the country, represented by her, must resist this. She came out strongly in defense of her state when Russia was accused of poisoning the Skripals. Zakharova cited a number of historical examples when Great Britain behaved inhumanely.

The world of Russian politics is literally replete with bright personalities, each of whom is always interesting to the public. But among them there are some that stand apart and especially attract attention. This article will talk about a woman named Maria Zakharova, who is a speechmaker at the department in charge of foreign affairs in Russia. We will consider her biography in as much detail as possible.

Birth and parents

Maria Zakharova, whose biography will be discussed in the article, was born on December 24, 1975. According to her zodiac sign, she is Capricorn. Maria Zakharova's father, Vladimir Yuryevich Zakharov, worked in the diplomatic field and was a professional orientalist. In 1971, he graduated from the Leningrad State Institute. Zhdanov and received a specialist diploma in Chinese language and literature. He worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR and Russia for 34 years from 1980 to 2014. For 13 of these years, the diplomat was the head of the Russian consulate in China. From 1997 to 2001 he was an educational and cultural adviser at the same institution. Next was work as head of the department of Asian-Pacific cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry. And a little later, Vladimir took the post of chief adviser to the minister. From 2014 to this day he has been working as a school of oriental studies at the base High school economy. At the same time, he works as the head of the Institute for Scientific and Political Research of the Black Sea-Caspian Region.

Our heroine’s mother, Irina Vladislavovna Zakharova, was born in 1949. In 1971, she completed her studies within the walls of the Moscow state university them. Lomonosov. My labor activity she started at the Museum of Fine Arts. Pushkin. Nowadays, women work as elders research fellow department specializing in aesthetic education. In 1949 she successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis in Russian Academy arts She was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

Maria's childhood

Young Zakharova Maria (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will become a job for her much later) in early years In her life, she loved to walk along the picturesque Chinese streets and explore the monasteries and parks of the Celestial Empire with her parents. At school, the girl studied very diligently, regularly receiving good grades. paid Special attention learning Chinese. Like her many peers, Masha became interested in dolls and making small houses for them. This childhood affection has transformed over the years into the present adult hobby- implementation of miniature interiors.

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova dreamed of being involved in the same hectic and serious work that her father had. Most likely, this is why the girl fell in love with a TV show called “International Panorama”, the main topic of which was a discussion of the main economic and political events taking place abroad.

Education of M. V. Zakharova

After graduating from school, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova returned to her homeland with her parents in order to enter the Moscow State Institute international relations at the Faculty of Journalism. The girl chose Oriental studies as her main specialization. In her last year of university, in 1998, Zakharova went to China for pre-graduation internship at the Russian Embassy.

Five years later, Maria brilliantly defended her dissertation at the RUDN University on the topic of New Year celebrations in China. For this she was awarded academic degree candidate of historical sciences.

Carier start

Maria began her active career as an employee of the editorial office of the Russian Foreign Ministry magazine "Diplomatic Bulletin". There she met her boss, Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko, who later became the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The boss of our heroine adhered to those life principles the same as her grandmother. Yakovenko always believed that only clear interaction between all team members ensures a positive result. Maria’s grandmother also always told her that everything should be done as efficiently as possible, even if no one would be able to check it. Therefore, the girl’s integration into the team was painless.

Promotion

Having proven herself excellent in the editorial office, Maria Zakharova, at the command of the management, was transferred to the Department of Press and Information of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Having quickly understood her new surroundings, Masha took another step up the career ladder - in 2003 she became the head of the media operational monitoring department. A couple of years later, Maria Zakharova, for whom the Foreign Ministry had become her life’s work, was seconded to New York, where she took on the functions of press secretary of the Russian mission to the UN.

Homecoming

In 2008, Maria again finds herself in Belokamennaya within the walls of her native editorial office. But three years later she receives the position of deputy head of the Department of Press and Information. Somewhat later, she heads this structural unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such a high appointment of a woman is explained not only by her optimal professional qualities, but also by her enormous popularity in the media sphere. Zakharova was often invited to take part in various talk shows, and she also did not miss the opportunity to express her competent opinion in popular in social networks. Her functional responsibilities included ensuring the organization and holding of briefings by the official representative of the Ministry, recording in Internet resources on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the formation of information support for Sergei Lavrov during his trips abroad. There is even a photo showing the minister, Maria Vladimirovna, the former US Secretary of State and Jennifer Psaki.

In 2014, Zakharova received the “Runet Prize” as the head of the Department that won the “Culture, Mass Communications and Media” nomination.

Maria was also a member of the organizing committee involved in the preparation of the Eurasian Women’s Forum, which was held in St. Petersburg on September 24-25, 2015.

At the end of December 2015, the ministerial employee was awarded the title of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Second Class, which is a high-level diplomatic rank.

Maria Zakharova (the biography of this woman is interesting to many) is a member of the Russian Foreign and Defense Policy Council. Excellent knowledge of English and Chinese.

State award

At the beginning of 2017, Maria Zakharova was awarded in the Kremlin. At a ceremony, Vladimir Putin presented the civil servant with such an honorary badge in the presence of three dozen public and other figures. The President, in his congratulatory speech, pointed out that all those awarded are actively working with maximum dedication, always achieving the goals set for them. And before that, in 2013, Maria received a Certificate of Honor from Putin.

Also, Maria Zakharova, whose biography may well be an example for the younger generation, was included in the ranking of the most influential women planet in 2016, according to the authoritative television and radio company BBC. In addition, in February 2017, the civil servant received a letter of trust from the Russian journalistic community.

In 2016, it took second place in terms of citations in the Russian blogosphere.

Dissatisfied statements

Like many other public figures, Maria Zakharova (her biography is not burdened with damaging facts) has both fans and critics. Many Western media have a very negative attitude towards Zakharova’s emotional and fairly straightforward statements. In particular, the editor of Radio Liberty, Yaroslav Shimov, noted that journalistic style Maria, within the framework of which she maintains her blog on the Echo of Moscow website, is far from patriotic, but extremely aggressive.

In turn, journalists Olga Ivshina and Jenny Norton even stated that against the background of already too strained relations between Russia and the West, Zakharova’s rhetoric looks too undiplomatic.

Abroad, Maria Zakharova, whose career is very important, is very often referred to as “a sexy, smart and terrible miracle weapon of Putin’s propaganda.” In Russia, she is considered a more perfect “analog of Jen Psaki.”

Family status

Maria Zakharova, whose husband tries to help her in everything, is happily married. Her husband's name is Andrei Mikhailovich Makarov, he is an entrepreneur. The wedding took place on November 7, 2005 in New York, since at that moment Maria was working in the United States of America. Many years later, Zakharova’s wedding photos caused a noticeable resonance in society. In 2010, the daughter of Maria Zakharova was born, who was named Maryana.

About the profession

In one of her many interviews, Maria Vladimirovna said that she arrives at work at nine in the morning, but the duration working day varies, but very often you have to fulfill your professional duties until late at night. Sometimes Zakharova even had to take her little daughter with her to work, who simply had no one to leave at home with.

In those very rare moments when she has a long-awaited vacation, Maria Zakharova (her husband is not such a public figure) loves to write poems, which she is not ashamed to post on various popular social networks. By the way, it was Zakharova who wrote the lyrics of the song “Bring Back the Memory,” dedicated to the fallen Russian soldiers in Syria.

Also, Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova says that she independently updates her wardrobe, buying things with her own money, including for serious international diplomatic meetings. In addition, the civil servant notes that she has never had any stylists.

The most recognizable faces domestic diplomacy: Sergei Lavrov, the late Vitaly Churkin and the head of the information and press department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova. The Western press has given her the title of the charming arrowhead of Putin's propaganda thanks to her extraordinary mind and sharp remarks.

Zakharov dynasty

For the daughter of the Soviet envoy, Maria Zakharova, who spent a significant part of her childhood abroad, ethics and rules of behavior as a person of the country are not new. She believes that PR campaigns of a diplomatic department cannot be successful if diplomatic mission employees do not become propagandists of the country's policies to the same extent as TV presenters.

The head of the diplomatic dynasty, Vladimir Yuryevich Zakharov, after graduating from the Faculty of Philology with a course in Chinese language and literature at Leningrad University in 1971, was assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Soviet Union. He gave 26 years of his life to the diplomatic department.

On December 24, 1975, a daughter was born into the family of sinologists Irina and Vladimir Zakharov. She went to school in Beijing, where her father was sent to work. Parents lived in China for more than 20 years. They became close to the culture of the neighboring people.

Having completed their work abroad, the parents settled in Moscow. Vladimir Yuryevich became a professor, teaching at economics and language universities. The wife is engaged in scientific work at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Linguists upon returning to their homeland published a book folk tales in Russian under the romantic title “We wish you happiness from year to year.”

Career

For Maria Vladimirovna, a career as a diplomatic worker is the fulfillment of a childhood dream. With the help of her parents, she immersed herself in the linguistic culture of the country, with which at that time good neighborly relations were just being re-established.

The most interesting TV show for family viewing was Zorin’s “International Panorama”. At 92 she brilliantly graduated from school and passed exams in her homeland at MGIMO for the Faculty of International Journalism. The internship before defending my thesis took place in Beijing. There was an unexpected return to unforgotten China.

In 1998, Maria, as a certified specialist, was included in the Diplomatic Bulletin magazine, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The quality and effectiveness of the girl’s work was appreciated by Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko, who directly supervised Zakharova’s work. He soon rose to the rank of deputy minister.


After 5 years, Zakharova, having gained experience, moved to the same ministry with a promotion. Headed the operational media monitoring department of the Department of Information and Press. The scope of responsibility included information support for the minister during business trips abroad and maintaining the ministry’s accounts on social networks.

And again she did not remain in the shadows. In 2003, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation became a candidate of sciences, having defended her dissertation at the Moscow State University of Peoples' Friendship. Patrice Lumumba about the peculiarities of New Year's holiday rituals in the Celestial Empire in the light of a fresh understanding of the national historical symbolism of the holiday.

After another 2 years, she was appointed to the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN as a press secretary. The legendary Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin, with whom I had to work side by side, directed Zakharova’s work. Maria Vladimirovna remembers working in New York with the ace of Russian diplomacy with warmth.

The experience of verbal battles at briefings with unexpected provocative questions from journalists from scandalous publications strengthened her character. Consistency, consistency and restraint, seasoned with a bit of humor, added sympathy and openness to the foreign policy body on the world stage.

Family is a closed area

The biography of a public figure is interesting to the average person not only because of the number of career steps he has overcome. I would like to know about privacy women-mothers, wives. And this is perhaps of main interest. Nothing human is alien to Zakharova.

Column " Family status” is filled with the word “married.” The marriage took place in 2005 at the Russian Embassy in New York. The groom flew to the wedding ceremony from Moscow. Andrey, a businessman and patriot, decided that his beloved does not have the right to manage her time as freely as he can afford. According to Maria, “he came, registered the marriage, left.” The publicity of the position at the UN taught the young woman to separate family and work in the ministry.

She put maiden name, to limit the ability of the tabloid press to intrude into personal life. The prudent husband agreed with the arguments.

Protection is never perfect. There are loopholes for unscrupulous fried lovers. Wedding photos with explicit kisses of the bride and groom were posted on the Internet against the will of the owner. The family has been withdrawn from the public sphere.

The “children” column in the personal file is filled in with “daughter Maryana, born in 2010.” Sometimes, when there was no one to leave the child with, I had to go to work with the baby. This year the girl will start school. There will be more trouble.

Opinion of foreign colleagues

In the second half of 2015, when she became director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and acquired the status of the Official Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, she gained worldwide and all-Russian fame.

Here is what the English-language Wikipedia writes about it with links to printed sources:

• “Smart, sexy blonde... looks... subtle diplomatic provocation” (Stern);
• “Femininity and success are a continuation of attractiveness infused with toughness” (Sunday Times);

At one time, the Russian “sexual beast,” as Zakharova was dubbed Western media, compared to Jen Psaki. Not quite a fair comparison. Maria Zakharova keeps so much information in her head that she is not in danger of making mistakes, such as her American colleague experienced due to lack of awareness.

Fresh vibe

High-ranking official new formation is not afraid to part with officialdom. She decisively adopted the free manner of informal communication of Western politicians, which immediately affected the rating and interest of citizens in foreign policy.

Did Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova change the Foreign Ministry? Undoubtedly, in better side. The openness of the mouthpiece of the foreign policy department added confidence to the political leadership. The necessity or compulsion of political actions in the international arena has become clear and understandable. Participation in talk shows on the central channels of domestic television, the flow of which cannot be programmed, made Maria Vladimirovna one of the most recognizable women in the country. The ease of the sharp-tongued lady and the persuasiveness of her arguments added more admirers.

Most Russians remember Zakharova for fulfilling her promise to journalists to dance “Kalinka” at the summit in Sochi. The impromptu was a great success. The action has become one of those that is pointless to repeat - it cannot be outshone. Even detractors on social networks were forced to note that it was a real bomb.

Video of “Kalinka” at the summit in Sochi:

Maria Vladimirovna appreciated the effectiveness of social networks in her previous position. She is an active Facebook user. He also shares controversial thoughts with readers.

The reaction of socially and politically active citizens comes first-hand, without the errors characteristic of monitoring. It can be stated that in the person of Maria Vladimirovna, for the first time we encountered a living connection between the ministry and the population.

Creativity is not limited to demonstration dancing in stiletto heels. Maria writes poetry. Readers on Facebook are familiar with the poetess’s work. A poetic duel with opposition journalist and poet Dmitry Bykov is indicative. I responded to irony with rhyming irony. The culture of dialogue was observed at top level, and the opponents are worthy of each other.

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova is an influential diplomat and official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Born on December 24, 1975 in a diplomatic family.

Childhood

Maria spent her childhood in Beijing, where her love for history and the East was born, which has remained to this day. A long stay in China left its indelible mark and influenced the girl’s character. She admired Chinese art, I especially liked the national double-sided embroidery.

Later, she will transfer the values ​​of Eastern philosophy into her style of work and in one of her interviews she will say that even if you need to sew so that it looks beautiful from the inside out, then you need to work the same way. And all her life she made such high demands not only on those around her, but also on herself.

After graduating from school, Maria and her family return to Moscow and enter MGIMO to study international journalism with a specialization in Oriental studies. Naturally, this choice was not a surprise to anyone. The girl simply continued to develop in an environment familiar to her from childhood.

Carier start

In 1998, after completing her studies, she was able to briefly return to the familiar Beijing. There she completed postgraduate internship at the Russian Embassy. By the way, Maria also defended her PhD thesis on the topic of Oriental studies, supported by studies of modern China.

Your first real workplace Maria received it in the Diplomatic Bulletin magazine under the Russian Foreign Ministry. It was there that Maria met with her first leader, Alexander Yakovenko, who later took the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Yakovenko was then one of the few leaders who adhered to the principles of teamwork. He not only carefully selected his employees, but also taught them high-quality professional interaction, in which personal authority or achievements were put at the forefront, and the overall team result of work. Maria remains faithful to these principles to this day.

History of success

Soon Maria was transferred to the Department of Information and Press at the Russian Foreign Ministry, where in 2003 she already took the post of head of the department. She successfully worked there until 2005, when she was transferred to New York as press secretary of the Russian Embassy to the UN.

In 2008, Zakharova returned to Moscow again to her position, but in 2011 she already became deputy head of the entire Department of Press and Information at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

At this time, she was already becoming quite a famous and influential person, who was familiar to Russians thanks to the popular political television talk shows “Politics”, “Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov”, etc., in which Maria regularly takes part. It's always interesting to listen to her because she is not afraid to openly express her opinions and raise truly pressing issues.

In August 2015, Maria Zakharova became the first woman in Russian history to head the Department of Press and Information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has also been appointed as the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova on social networks

Maria Zakharova is one of the first Russian diplomatic figures who actively use such a reality of our time as social networks in their work. Social networks are not just a propaganda tool for her political activity diplomatic mission, but also a source of feedback.

In this way, she manages to keep her finger on the pulse of public opinion, to see the very “wrong side” of her active work, which she remembers all her life. Her grandmother taught her this and she instills this same quality in her daughter.

In January 2017, Maria received the first order in her life. It was presented by Vladimir Putin himself - the “Order of Friendship”.

For good service and work for the benefit of Russia, Zakharova was promoted in 2017. She is now “Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, 1st Class.”

Maria Zakharova constantly holds press conferences with media representatives in order to tell last news. In her opinion, the world is now more than ever opposed to the Russians, and this must be resisted.

Zakharova in 2018, after the loud scandal with the poisoning of the Skripal family, spoke quite harshly about the conduct of British politics, allegedly they are to blame for the genocide of the Tasmanians and Boers in the 19th century and for the murder of Grigory Rasputin.

Maria Zakharova never stands aside from the events that take place in world politics. She always expresses her opinion on what is happening and writes it on the Internet.

She also did not stand aside when they wanted to close the Telegram social network. Maria believes that these are very strict measures and it would be possible to simply introduce mandatory registration of all users, and not immediately close the network.

Maria Zakharova is the first woman in the history of Russian diplomacy to be appointed to the post of official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. She is one of the most quoted diplomats in Russia and is known for her “sharp” statements on social networks. The new speaker of the diplomatic department is being compared to the ex-speaker of the US State Department, who is often ridiculed in Russia for.

For her informality of speech and ability to present diplomatic information in “live” language and in an extraordinary manner, Zakharova is called “Anti-Psaki”, considering Maria the main media person of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova was born on December 24, 1975 into a family of Russian diplomats who at one time worked in Beijing. The future speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry spent her childhood in the capital of the People's Republic of China, thanks to which Maria is fluent in Chinese. ABOUT school years There is practically no information about Zakharova; it is only known that Maria was a diligent student who dreamed of becoming a diplomat from childhood. According to Zakharova, her favorite program in her youth was “International Panorama,” which fascinated her.

Difficulties with choice future profession the girl did not experience it - she, without hesitation, entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations at the Faculty of Journalism, from which she successfully graduated in 1998, receiving a diploma in international journalism. Pre-graduation practice Zakharova took place in Russian embassy in Beijing, and after receiving her diploma she remained to work at the Russian Foreign Ministry. In 2003, Maria became a candidate of historical sciences, defending her dissertation at Peoples' Friendship University.

Policy

From the first days, Maria Zakharova’s career has been continuously connected with Russian Ministry foreign affairs First, the girl got a job as an editor at the departmental magazine “Diplomatic Messenger”, and then was hired by the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she served as head of the operational media monitoring department.

The next step in Zakharova’s diplomatic biography was a new leadership position in the diplomatic department - Maria headed the press service of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York. Maria worked in this position until 2008, after which she returned to Moscow to her previous place of work.

For the next three years, the future speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry showed professional qualities in the central office of the department, so in 2011 she was appointed to the post of deputy head of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In her position, Zakharova became widely known in society, as her responsibilities included frequent communication with the press. Her activities also included organizing regular briefings by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, accompanying the head of the department during foreign visits, as well as popularizing the foreign ministry on social networks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation owes Maria Zakharova an informal outlet on social networks. Her professionalism and ability to work with the public made it possible to popularize the Department among society, thanks to which compatriots began to receive political information in “live” language with particular sharpness and emotionality. At the same time, Maria Vladimirovna regularly participates in political programs and talk shows, which allowed her to become one of the most quoted Russian diplomats.

During her 15-year work at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Zakharova was awarded the diplomatic rank of a top-class adviser, and also became a member of the Council on Foreign Policy and Defense of the Russian Federation.

On August 10, 2015, Maria Zakharova was appointed to the post of official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In this position, Maria replaced Alexander Lukashevich in connection with his appointment to the post of Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE. Having become the first media person of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Vladimirovna noted that there would be no significant changes in her work. Zakharova intends to continue to cover diplomatic activities on social networks and, in the same form, inform the public about the work of the department.

Zakharova emphasized that over the past four years of direct work under the leadership of Lukashevich, Maria adopted his experience, therefore, after being appointed to a new position, she does not see any difficulties or obstacles for herself professional activity. As head of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Vladimirovna promised to do the job efficiently and preserve the work of her predecessors without changing the genre and format of political explanations on social networks.

At the Russian Foreign Ministry, opinions regarding the appointment of Maria Vladimirovna to the post of official representative were divided. Some believe that foreign policy- is far from an area where one can experiment in Zakharova’s characteristic style, while others, on the contrary, call Zakharova’s appointment a profitable option for the department, since she is a professional in her field.

Personal life

The personal life of Maria Zakharova has long been connected with one single person - her husband. Zakharova's husband - Russian entrepreneur. The wedding took place in early November 2005 in New York, where Maria was at work at that time. The ceremony was held privately, the young people simply got married, without arranging a luxurious celebration.

Five years later, the couple had a daughter, Maryana. Despite the fact that it is not customary for Foreign Ministry employees to bring children to work, Maria appeared at the department several times with her daughter. As Zakharova herself reported, this was due to the impossibility of leaving the little girl alone at home.

Since childhood, Maria Zakharova has been interested in arranging doll houses. This hobby began with a gift from their parents - a miniature hat that the Zakharovs brought to their daughter from China. Maria's passion for doll accessories and interior items remained with her throughout her life. On trips abroad, Maria acquires unique things: small armchairs, sofas, bathtubs for dolls. She fills the miniature house with them.

Physical fitness Maria Zakharova supports regular sports training, reports of which in the form of photos the diplomat posts on the page in “ Instagram ».

Maria Zakharova now

For productive work for the benefit of her homeland, Maria Zakharova received a promotion in 2017, changing her diplomatic rank. Today Maria is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 1st Class. In the same year, a significant event took place for the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maria received the Order of Friendship from the hands of the President.

Briefings are held weekly for meetings with the media in the Foreign Ministry building, where Maria Zakharova comments on the latest news. Maria Zakharova continues to conduct dialogue with foreign countries, expressing the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and her personal views. The diplomat believes that now more than ever the international community is susceptible to Russophobic sentiments that need to be resisted.

In 2018, after an English spy and Russia being accused of this crime, Maria Zakharova listed a number of examples of inhumane conduct of international politics by Great Britain. A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the British of the genocide of Tasmanians and Boers in the 19th century, of the destruction of Kenyans and even of murder. After the expulsion of diplomats from the United States, Maria responded on behalf of the Russian Foreign Ministry that the measures taken would be adequate.

Maria Zakharova regularly comments on current events in world politics, as well as in the Russian media space. Diplomat in Once again retorted, who again spoke unfriendly about the Russians. Commenting on the closure of the Telegram network by Roskomnadzor, Maria replied that she did not agree with such measures. In her opinion, it would have been enough to oblige all subscribers of the interpersonal communication channel to register, and not to block the network.

Maria Zakharova also spoke about. A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a people who managed to maintain unity despite disagreements can be called great.

Awards

• 2013 – Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation
• 2016 – Award of the Moscow Union of Journalists “For openness to the press”
• 2017 – “Certificate of Confidence from the Journalist Community of Russia” from the Union of Journalists of Russia - “for openness in working with the media”
• 2017 – Medal “Marshal Vasily Chuikov” from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia
• 2017 – Order of Friendship