Crossword Genius

Government appointee that's a Russian infiltrator (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tsar

'government appointee' is the definition.

'that's a russian infiltrator' is the wordplay.
'infiltrator' says the answer is hidden in the clue (the answer has infiltrated the clue ).
'TSAR' is hidden in the letters of 'thats a russian'.

(Other definitions for tsar that I've seen before include "Male monarch" , "Nicholas II was the last" , "Word derived from Caesar, used by European rulers since 1547" , "Title of Russian emperor" , "Rats to the Russian emperor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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