A former actress and model who once appeared on the cover of Russian Playboy has been elected as one of Vladimir Putin’s MPs.

Speaking after she was confirmed as the new MP for Tomsk in Siberia, former Playboy bunny Maria Kozhevnikova said: “For me this is an absolutely big event in my life.”

The 27-year-old posed for the magazine two years ago after breaking up with her boyfriend.

Her front page debut invited readers to “meet Maria and get to know her better”, and indeed they did, with a seven page spread within.

Kozhevnikova was a member of the Young Guard of Putin’s political party United Russia.

Earlier this month she defended him amid protests over a disputed parliamentary election.

“I’ve seen Putin close up several times and I want to say that this man has very strong vibes.

“I’ve watched how people have changed when they got close to Putin, not because they are afraid, but because they feel a calm and strong confidence.

“Because of this, the West is afraid of him and that is understandable.”