About
Maria Zakharova was born on December 24, 1975, in Moscow. The daughter of a diplomat, she spent her childhood in Beijing. She graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1998 and earned a doctorate in history in 2003. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, holding various positions, including at the UN. In 2015, she became the first female official spokesperson of the ministry, a position she still holds. She was named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2016 and was sanctioned by the European Union in 2022.
* 1975-12-24
Key milestones
- 2015Appointed director of the Information and Press Department, becoming the first female spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
- 2016Included in the BBC's 100 Women list.
- 2022Sanctioned by the European Union, described as a central figure of government propaganda.
Themes
DiplomacyPolitical communicationPropagandaWomen in politicsInternational relations
Sources: tass.com · war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua