Mag to sue Russian spy after saucy photoshoot

Things are not going smoothly for the former Russian spy Anna Chapman, now back in Russia. Lawyers for the Russian magazine Zhara - or 'Heat' - are expected to file a lawsuit this week against the 28-year-old after she allegedly breached the magazine's copyright by posting pictures from a photoshoot on her Facebook page.

The magazine is said to be looking for one million rubles - about £20,000 - in compensation. The photos, which were supposed to be exclusive to Zhara, were picked up from the Facebook posting by other media, including the Russian tabloid, Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Chapman, 28, posed in a series of skintight short dresses and high heels for the shoot in her first attempt since returning to Russia to capitalise on her notoriety. A video (above) posted online shows her flicking her hair and thrusting out her bottom, in what could be mistaken for a parody of a 'cheap 'n' saucy' shoot.

She was one of 10 deep-cover Russian agents expelled from the United States in June, and now under orders never to return.

Not only are the magazine lawyers after her, but ordinary Russians have not reacted kindly to the Zhara photos. "Goodness what a dork," wrote one blogger, while others criticised her for trying to promote herself as a national hero when she was no more than a "failed" spy.

One outfit that would gladly step in and rescue Chapman's career is the American porn producer, Vivid Entertainment, recently in the news over Montana Fishburne's porn ambitions.

Vivid have offered to make Chapman a star - though they haven't said how they would get around a US ruling that she must never be allowed to cash in on her endeavours as a spy. ·