Ekaterina Gubareva | |
|---|---|
Екатерина Губарева | |
.png) Gubareva in 2015 | |
| Deputy Head of the Kherson Military-Civilian Administration | |
| In office 16 June 2022 – 16 November 2022 | |
| Governor | Volodymyr Saldo |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Donetsk People's Republic | |
| In office 16 May 2014 – 15 August 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Post established |
| Succeeded by | Alexandru Caraman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 July 1983 Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian SSR |
| Political party | New Russia Party |
| Spouse | Pavel Gubarev |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Donetsk National Technical University |
Ekaterina Yurevna Gubareva (Russian: Екатерина Юрьевна Губарева; Ukrainian: Катерина Юріївна Губарєва; born 5 July 1983) is a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian activist and political figure.
Gubareva has previously held senior positions in pro-Russian separatist-held territory. She was "Minister of Foreign Affairs" in Russian-occupied Donetsk for the Donetsk People's Republic.[1][2][3] Gubareva was detained, and then dismissed from her last position, as deputy head of the collaborationist Kherson Military-Civilian Administration in Russian-occupied Ukraine.[4][5]
Born on 5 July 1983 in Kakhovka, Gubereva has a degree in computer science from the Donetsk National Technical University.[6][7] Before the war in Donbas, she was known as a local organizer of healthy lifestyle festivals.[8] Gubareva was an amateur artist, and her works were exhibited in a Donetsk gallery.[9]
On 1 March 2014, during anti-Euromaidan protests, at a rally in Donetsk, southeastern part of Ukraine, her husband Pavel Gubarev was chosen as "people's governor" of Donetsk oblast.[citation needed] On 6 March 2014, Gubarev was then arrested[10] and taken by the Security Service of Ukraine to Kyiv.[11] Ekaterina Gubareva then lived with their children in Rostov-on-Don, Russia for some time.
In April 2014, the Donetsk People's Republic was proclaimed within the Donetsk region. Gubareva led its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[12] Gubareva became the organizer of humanitarian convoys (food, medicine, childcare products) for the civilians and fighters of the Donetsk People's Republic. She said: "We don't carry weapons or fighters, and we don't know anything about that side of things."[13] On 16 August 2014, the former vice president of Transnistria, Alexander Karaman, replaced Gubareva in the post of foreign minister of the DPR, for unspecified reasons.[14] She became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
After an assassination attempt on her husband, Pavel Gubarev, on 13 October 2014,[15] she temporarily led the New Russia Party.[16] Pavel Gubarev formed the Free Donbas movement in 2014.
Elections for a new head were held in the Donetsk People's Republic after the assassination of Alexander Zakharchenko. Pavel Gubarev declared his desire to stand, however would ultimately be blocked from standing after being accused of faking signature on his nomination papers. Incumbent Denis Pushilin would win in these elections, and this effectively marked the end of Pavel Gubarev's political career in the DNR.[17] Ekaterina Gubareva had been set to head the Free Donbas party list for the "elections" of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic of 11 November 2018.,[17] however on 29 September 2018, she was arrested and held in custody by unknown people, and so was unable to attend the party convention that day, with the result that she was excluded from the party list.[17] After this, Gubareva left for Rostov-on-Don.[17]
Gubareva was sanctioned by the UK government in 2014 in relation to Russo-Ukrainian War.[18] The European Union has also sanctioned Gubareva. She was banned from entering the European Union and her accounts in European banks were frozen.[19] According to EU officials:
In her capacity of so called "Minister of Foreign Affairs" she is responsible of defending the so called "Donetsk People's Republic", thus undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. In addition, her bank account is used to finance illegal armed separatist groups. In taking on and acting in this capacity she has therefore supported actions and policies which undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.[20]
On 16 June 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gubareva took office as Chief of Staff and Deputy Head of the Russian-occupation government called "Kherson Military-Civilian Administration" for Digitalization, Communications, Legal Regulation, and Domestic and Foreign Policy.[21] In statements made of a planned referendum to join Russia, she claimed that the Russian Federation was repeating the history of Empress Catherine who developed the "wild fields" following the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774.[22]
Gubareva was briefly reported as having 'disappeared' on 15 November 2022.[23] On 16 November, Russian media reported that Gubareva had been detained by the Russian police in relation to a corruption case involving embezzlement of public funds.[4][5] Gubareva was later released, and dismissed from her position.[24]
She is married to Pavel Gubarev. The pair have two sons and a daughter, and live in Rostov-on-Don.[25]
