Putin makes surprise appointment for Natalia Poklonskaya despite her critical remarks

Natalia Poklonskaya, former State Duma deputy and ex-deputy head of Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian Federal Cultural Agency) was appointed adviser to the Prosecutor General of Russia Igor Krasnov.

Poklonskaya wrote on Telegram channel that in connection with the new appointment, she ceased her activities on social media.

"Now I will work to fulfil the missions of the Prosecutor General of Russia in accordance with the Federal Law "On the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation,” Poklonskaya said and recommended contacting the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office for other comments.

The Prosecutor General signed a decree appointing Poklonskaya to the post of adviser on June 14. It remains unknown what her job duties will be.

On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree removing Poklonskaya from the post of deputy head of Rossotrudnichestvo. The reason for this decision was not specified.

Poklonskaya herself said that she was grateful to Putin.

"I am grateful to our president for his support and trust,” she wrote.

Natalia Poklonskaya publicly criticised operation in Ukraine

Poklonskaya, a native of Crimea, spoke negatively about the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. In particular, she urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take steps towards peace and noted that the fate of Russia and Ukraine was in the hands of everyone. Poklonskaya also described the situation in Ukraine as "darkness and catastrophe."

"My two native countries are killing each other. I didn't want it before and I don't want it now,” Natalia Poklonskaya once said adding that she thought of herself as both Russian and Ukrainian at the same time.

She also said that she saw the letter Z (Z is used as a symbol of the Russian-led operation in Ukraine — ed.) as a symbol of tragedy and grief for Russia and Ukraine.

"I'm talking about the fact that it's dangerous to blindly worship any symbols — history doesn't like this,” Poklonskaya noted.

The head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov, did not agree with her statement. He explained that Latin letter Z, like V, symbolized popular support for the Russian army and the liberation of Ukraine from obvious evil.

• Natalia Poklonskaya is a Ukrainian-born Russian politician and diplomat. She was born 18 March 1980 in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1990, her family moved to Yevpatoria in Crimea.
• From 2 May 2014 to 6 October 2016, she served as Prosecutor of the Republic of Crimea. From 2016 to 2021, she served as Deputy of the State Duma of Russia, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs.