Russian Leader Appoints Playboy Bunny to Parliament Role

And she showed her loyalty to strongman premier Putin - who is now standing for a return to the Kremlin presidency - by criticising those behind the recent protests against him.

She warned of 'professional provocateurs' whose mission was to 'ignite' the people. 'This can lead to a lot of victims among the ordinary people,' she said.

She made clear she stands for a 'strong Russia' under Putin. The actress-turned-politician originally intended to go into gymnastics, the main career of another United Russia MP Alina Kabaeva, who also posed semi-nude for a Russian magazine.

Kabaeva, 28, who twice won Olympic gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics, has been romantically linked to Putin, though both sides deny a relationship.