Female Russian soldier is fired 'after her National Guard beauty pageant victory made others jealous'
A soldier who won a beauty contest in Russia's National Guard has claimed 'envy' is behind her axing from the service which is under Vladimir Putin's direct command.
Mother-of-one Anna Khramtsova, 32, beat more than one thousand entrants to win the national contest last year.
But now she has been fired ostensibly for posting a video which showed the inside of services premises where she worked.
Mother-of-one Anna Khramtsova, 32, beat more than one thousand entrants to win the national contest last year
Having earlier claimed to be a victim of 'sexism' in the national guard, she has now told how she had faced 'envy' especially from women in the internal military force
Having earlier claimed to be a victim of 'sexism' in the national guard, she has now told how she had faced 'envy' especially from women in the internal military force of the Russian government.
The video that led to her dismissal, showing a disinfection operation, has been deleted but other revealing footage and pictures showing her love of bikini fitness competitions - 'my hobby' - may have sparked jealousy and resulted in her exit, she believes.
'I was fired because they needed it, I crossed… someone,' the ensign told Govorit Moskva radio.
The video that led to her dismissal, showing a disinfection operation, has been deleted but other revealing footage and pictures showing her love of bikini fitness competitions - 'my hobby' - may have sparked jealousy and resulted in her exit, she believes
'The reason for my dismissal was trifling, filming an administrative building during disinfection in order to raise the spirits.'
Only a 'narrow circle of people' even saw the footage in her home city Yekaterinburg.
'After the contest I got more envy, they learned about my hobby, my sports, so they got ready to kick me out from the service,' she said.
'Now they have done it.'
But she hinted she will appeal the decision.
'In the near future I will decide what to do next. But I just won't leave it like this,' she said.
'The reason for my dismissal was trifling, filming an administrative building during disinfection in order to raise the spirits,' she said
Only a 'narrow circle of people' even saw the footage in her home city Yekaterinburg
Anna told E1 media that her win as Miss National Guard in the online pageant had proved divisive, with many service women 'recoiling from me'.
'I am very proud of this victory,' she said.
'Some congratulated me, some showed envy.
'Male colleagues congratulated, wrote a lot, some tried to meet me personally.
'Such a wave of popularity was very pleasant.
'But many women in the service even stopped greeting me.'
Once her bikini fitness contests became known 'lady colleagues hardly talked to me', she said.
'I don't know why they reacted so sharply to this.
'So I go on stage in a bikini - for some it's a swimsuit, but for me this is a stage costume and nothing more.
'Apparently, they envy me.'
She also faced trolls setting up a fake social media page with false claims that she was a victim of domestic violence.
Anna told E1 media that her win as Miss National Guard in the online pageant had proved divisive, with many service women 'recoiling from me'
Once her bikini fitness contests became known 'lady colleagues hardly talked to me', she said
A source in the 340,000-strong guards - set up by Putin - told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that the video had breached rules
A source in the 340,000-strong guards - set up by Putin - told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that the video had breached rules.
'Khramtsova showed the closed premises of the Russian Guard troops. It is unacceptable.'
A spokesman said: 'Compliance with the conditions of service is mandatory for all personnel and implies the personal responsibility of the employee.'
After her win last year, she told how she faced 'those old jokes about blonds in service, but I ignore them - and just serve stylishly'.
She is from a military and law enforcement family, with her father in the army and police for 30 years and her mother also in uniform.
'I am proud to continue the dynasty,' she said at the time.
The mission of the national guards to to secure borders, take charge of gun control, combat terrorism, defeat organised crime, protect public order and keep important state facilities secure.
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