MARIA GAIDAR

Ex-Russian prime minister Yegor Gaidar’s daughter under fire for leaving for Ukraine 1 Maria has accepted the job of deputy governor in a Ukrainian region, a decision that has sparked criticism in both Russia and Ukraine 2 Her move has been painted as a ‘betrayal’ in Russia. In Ukraine, she has been criticised for being hesitant to denounce Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula 3 Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia’s president during his country’s brief war with Russia in 2008, described her as ‘one of the most brilliant political leaders fighting Putin’s regime’ 4 Maria, 32, is an opposition activist in her own right. She served as deputy governor in Russia’s Kirov region in 2009-2011 and advised Moscow’s deputy mayor in 2012-2013.