She may be the new top crime-fighter in Crimea, but Natalia Poklonskaya has become an Internet sensation in Japan for other reasons — her anime looks, glamorous blond hair, elfin face and wide round eyes.
Japanese Net fans have made Poklonskaya, 33, an anime heroine, creating multiple versions of fan art bearing her likeness and professing their love online.
And a video clip of the new prosecutor of the Crimean Republic recently went viral in Japan — drawing a torrent of comments from slobbering fans.
“Summon me for questioning! I’ll tell you everything I know! I’ll even tell you everything I don’t know!” commented one smitten Net fan, according to RocketNews24, an Asian news Web site.
“I want her to grab me by the lapels and slap me twice. And when I fall down, I want her to bury her foot into my gut,” wrote another Japanese fan, while a third added, “Please step on me.”
Others admitted they knew nothing of Russia’s takeover of the region in eastern Ukraine — but were ready to join the fight.
“This is a battle I cannot avoid. Be right back; going to Crimea,” a fan said.
“I don’t really know what’s going on, but I back her! Because she’s gorgeous!” added another.
Poklonskaya seemed unaware of her newfound fame when asked about her anime alter-ego.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” she told Russian TV channel NTV. “Well, I want to be viewed as the attorney general, and I want to be evaluated on the way in which I do my job. I’m putting tremendous effort into that.”
In another interview, Poklonskaya said the reaction online was a “great surprise” to her, adding that she had no social media presence.
But someone created a phony Twitter account bearing her name in which she purportedly thanked her Japanese fans.
“I love you!” the person posing as Poklonskaya gushed.
Poklonskaya, who previously served as a prosecutor for the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, was appointed to the job of attorney general on March 11.