THE DAUGHTER of former Russian premier Yegor Gaidar has become deputy governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region.

The news of Maria Gaidar’s appointment broke as Russian newspaper Izvestia reported that Crimean state prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya may become an MP for Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.

US-educated Ms Gaidar, whose father was acting prime minister in 1992, will be deputy to fugitive Georgian former president Mikhail Saakashvili.

He described her on Friday as “one of the most brilliant political leaders fighting Putin’s regime.”

Ms Gaidar told reporters in Kiev yesterday that she opposed Crimea’s reunification with Russia last year.

“It was illegal and immoral and Crimea should be returned to Ukraine,” she said.

Ms Poklonskaya has a Kiev arrest warrant on her head.