'''Maria Zakharova''' is the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. She was born in [[Moscow]] and grew up in [[Beijing]]. The daughter of diplomats, she too is a diplomat, has a PhD in history, and speaks Chinese.
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'''Maria Zakharova''' is the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. She was born in [[Moscow]] and grew up in [[Beijing]]. The daughter of diplomats, she too is a diplomat, has a PhD in history, and speaks Chinese. From 2005 to 2008, Zakharova served as press secretary of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the [[United Nations]].