Alleged Russian spy no Mata Hari: Mother

Moscow, Jul 7: The Russian girl alleged by United States is 'no Mata Hari' but an average young woman, said her mother on Wednesday, Jul 7.

Mata Hari was the Dutch exotic dancer who was executed by the French for espionage during First World War.

Irina Kushchenko, mother of Anna Chapman, said that Anna is fiercely independent and driven but never stood out as above average among her peers. Kushcheko added that the 28-year-old Chapman kept the name of her British ex-husband.

"As an ex-teacher, I can say she never quite shined among her peers. But she was good, close to the top of her class," said Kushchenko.

Chapman's mother added that she learned at an early age to fend for herself while living with her ailing grandparents as her parents were often abroad on diplomatic postings. "Anna was always an open, happy child. She deeply loved her grandmother and grandfather and tried to hide from them whatever negative things were happening in her life," she said.

Alex, Anna Chapman's ex-husband had alleged that she was recruited by her father who was an agent of KGB, the former national security agency of Soviet Union.

OneIndia News