Pavel Gubarev

Gubarev gained a degree in history from Donetsk National University, and later became an employee of a Donetsk advertising agency. In 2007, he founded and served as the company director of the "Morozko" company, which supplied Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) figures for hire in the Donetsk area.{{cite web|title=Донецкий "народный губернатор" работал Дедом Морозом по вызову|trans-title=Donetsk's "people's governor" worked as a Santa Claus for hire|language=ru|url= http://focus.ua/society/300311/|date= 14 March 2014|access-date=22 July 2024}}{{cite news|title=Ukraine:'People's governor' worked as Santa-for-hire|work=BBC News|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-27390108|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514074939/http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-27390108|archive-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=live|date=13 May 2014|access-date=13 May 2018}}

In the late 90s, Gubarev was a member of the Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, a pro-Russian party based in the southeast of the country.{{cite news|title=Pro-Russian Gubarev, a symbol of east Ukraine separatism |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140309/pro-russian-gubarev-symbol-east-ukraine-separatism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311065542/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 March 2014|date=10 March 2014|access-date=10 March 2014}}{{cite news|title=Pro-Russian Gubarev, a symbol of east Ukraine separatism|author=Germain Moyon|url=http://digitaljournal.com/news/world/pro-russian-gubarev-a-symbol-of-east-ukraine-separatism/article/375337|publisher=Digital Journal|agency=AFP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417075836/http://digitaljournal.com/news/world/pro-russian-gubarev-a-symbol-of-east-ukraine-separatism/article/375337|url-status=live|date=9 March 2014 |archive-date=17 April 2014 | access-date=13 May 2018}} According to an unnamed acquaintance, Gubarev advocated Pan-Slavism. Between 1999 and 2001, Gubarev was a member of the neo-Nazi Russian National Unity paramilitary group, that later took part in the war in Donbas on the side of pro-Russian forces.{{cite news|title=Far-Right Forces are Influencing Russia's Actions in Crimea|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/117048/crimean-referendum-was-electoral-farce|last=Snyder|first=Timothy|author-link=Timothy D. Snyder|newspaper=The New Republic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317211808/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117048/crimean-referendum-was-electoral-farce|url-status=dead|date=17 March 2014|access-date=10 April 2014|archive-date=17 March 2014}}{{cite web|title=Far-Right Recruited as Crimea Poll Observers|url=http://iwpr.net/report-news/far-right-recruited-crimea-poll-observers|last=Coynash|first=Halya|publisher=Institute for War and Peace Reporting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212005/http://iwpr.net/report-news/far-right-recruited-crimea-poll-observers|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=live|date=18 March 2014|access-date=10 April 2014}}{{cite news|title=Russia's deep ties to Donetsk's Kremlin collaborators|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/russias-deep-ties-to-donetsks-kremlin-collaborators-342833.html|author=Oleksiy Matsuka and Vitaliy Sizov|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=10 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131103/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/russias-deep-ties-to-donetsks-kremlin-collaborators-342833.html|archive-date=13 April 2014|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}}{{cite news|title=Кремлевские неонацисты консультируют сепаратистов в Украине для расширения империи|date=10 April 2014|url=http://ru.tsn.ua/politika/rossiya-stanovitsya-nacistskoy-fashisty-ubivayut-migrantov-ne-priznayut-ukrainu-i-prizyvayut-k-diversiyam-359854.html|trans-title=Kremlin-oriented neo-Nazis advise separatists in Ukraine on expanding their empire|agency=TSN|archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141949/http://ru.tsn.ua/politika/rossiya-stanovitsya-nacistskoy-fashisty-ubivayut-migrantov-ne-priznayut-ukrainu-i-prizyvayut-k-diversiyam-359854.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}} Gubarev has publicly given thanks to this group for providing him with military training. In the same interview he said he was not a radical nationalist and described himself as "centre-left".{{cite web|title=Павел Губарев: Я благодарен РНЕ за военную подготовку|url=http://novorossia.su/node/2466publisher=novorossia.su|trans-title=I'm grateful to PNE for the military aid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113410/http://novorossia.su/node/2466|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2014|access-date=16 May 2024}}

{{Main|2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine}}

On 1 March 2014, pro-Russian citizens at a meeting in Lenin Square in the center of Donetsk elected Gubarev as governor of the region.{{cite web|website=RBK|publisher=РосБизнесКонсалтинг|url=http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20140306193140.shtml|script-title=ru:В Донецке задержан "народный губернатор" Губарев|date=6 March 2014|language=ru|trans-title='People's Governor' Gubaryev held in Donetsk|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141949/http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20140306193140.shtml|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}} On 3 March 2014, Gubarev led pro-Russian protesters who blockaded and occupied the Donetsk Regional State Administration building.{{Cite news|title=Pro-Russia protesters occupy regional government in Ukraine's Donetsk|work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-donetsk-protests-idUSBREA220XI20140303 |first=Lina|last=Kushch|date=3 March 2014|access-date=3 April 2023}} During a press-conference with journalists on 6 March 2014, Gubarev stated that his main goal as the self-proclaimed governor was to declare a referendum on the territorial status of Donetsk Oblast, non-recognition of the new Ukrainian government, and non-recognition of Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta.

On 6 March 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine arrested Gubarev.{{cite news|title=Pro-Russian leader arrested in Donetsk as Kiev hits back|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10681786/Pro-Russian-leader-arrested-in-Donetsk-as-Kiev-hits-back.html|author=Damien McElroy|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 March 2014|archive-date=9 March 2014 |access-date=13 May 2018 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309074226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10681786/Pro-Russian-leader-arrested-in-Donetsk-as-Kiev-hits-back.html}} Following his arrest, Gubarev was reportedly taken to Kyiv for detention.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-activist-donetsk-detention/25288316.html|title=Pro-Russian Protest Leader In Eastern Ukraine Said Taken To Kyiv|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=6 March 2014 |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-activist-donetsk-detention/25288316.html|archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=live}} He was later charged with wanting to damage "the territorial integrity and independence of the state".{{cite news|title=Ukrainian flag again flies over Donetsk regional HQ|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-donetsk-idUSBREA250CW20140306|work=Reuters|author=Lina Kushch|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311195327/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/us-ukraine-crisis-donetsk-idUSBREA250CW20140306|url-status=live|date=6 March 2014|access-date=13 May 2018}} On 16 March, a crowd of pro-Russian protesters stormed government buildings in Donetsk demanding Gubarev's release.{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russians flock to Crimea vote|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26598832|work=BBC News|date=16 March 2014|access-date=13 May 2018 }} On 7 May 2014, Gubarev and two other pro-Russian activists were freed in exchange for SBU officers, detained earlier by the Donbas People's Militia.{{cite news|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/world/730793|title=Donetsk people's governor Pavel Gubarev freed in exchange for SBU officers|agency=ITAR-TASS|date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508080435/http://en.itar-tass.com/world/730793|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}}{{cite news|title=Пленных сотрудников Альфы обменяли на трех лидеров сепаратистов - СБУ|url=http://www.unian.net/politics/915617-plennyih-sotrudnikov-alfyi-obmenyali-na-treh-liderov-separatistov-sbu.html|trans-title=The Alfa workers taken captive were exchanged for 3 separatist leaders|agency=UNIAN|date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909205843/http://www.unian.net/politics/915617-plennyih-sotrudnikov-alfyi-obmenyali-na-treh-liderov-separatistov-sbu.html|archive-date=9 September 2014|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}} Gubarev appeared in then separatist-held Slavyansk to give a defiant speech on Victory Day, calling for all 'Ukrainian Nazis to be eliminated'.{{cite news|title=Народный губернатор Донецкой республики Павел Губарев:"Дадим отпор фашистской нечести!"|trans-title=We'll repel the fascist scum|url=https://www.mk.ru/politics/2014/05/09/narodnyiy-gubernator-donetskoy-respubliki-pavel-gubarev-dadim-otpor-fashistskoy-nechesti.html|date=9 May 2014|access-date=26 September 2023}}

However, in the time of his detention, other senior separatist figures had emerged, notably Igor Girkin, and Alexander Borodai, meaning that freed, Gubarev had an uncertain position in the separatist hierarchy going forward.{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/politics/2014/05/16/premerministrom-dnr-stal-rossiyanin-aleksandr-boroday.html|title=Премьер-министром ДНР стал россиянин Александр Бородай|date=16 May 2014 |publisher=Mk.ru|access-date=26 September 2023}} With Borodai serving as Donetsk People's Republic Prime Minister, and Gubarev's 'People's Governor' post largely superseded, Gubarev took to mostly engaging himself in media activities, being effectively sidelined from any meaningful role in DPR affairs. Gubarev was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on 25 July 2014 in relation to his actions from earlier in 2014.{{cite web|title=CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150217/Russia.pdf|access-date=16 April 2023}}

In October 2014, Gubarev's car came under gunfire in a planned attack. Gubarev lost control of the car, and sustained a head injury in the resulting crash.{{cite news|title=East Ukraine rebel leader Gubarev unconscious after ambush|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29593949|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013105037/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29593949 |url-status=live|archive-date=13 October 2014|date=13 October 2014|access-date=13 May 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://novorossia.today/novorossia-news/yekaterina-gubareva-writes-on-pavel-guba.html|title=Yekaterina Gubareva writes on Pavel Gubarev's page in Facebook|agency=Novorossia News Agency|date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105014517/http://novorossia.today/novorossia-news/yekaterina-gubareva-writes-on-pavel-guba.html|archive-date=5 November 2014 |url-status=dead|access-date=14 October 2014}} Gubarev had planned to stand in November's 2014 Donbas parliamentary elections representing his Novorossiya party, however he excluded by the election commission from participating "because his party was not able to hold a founding conference".{{cite news|title=:Дадут ли Новороссии сделать выбор?|url=http://www.mk.ru/politics/2014/10/30/dadut-li-novorossii-sdelat-vybor.html|trans-title=Will Novorossia be given a choice?|language=ru|newspaper=Moskovskij Komsomolets|date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102131546/http://www.mk.ru/politics/2014/10/30/dadut-li-novorossii-sdelat-vybor.html|archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2018}}
{{cite news|title=A prelude to a farce: Prearranged ballots for Kremlin-backed breakaway regions|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/a-prelude-to-a-farce-prearranged-ballots-for-kremlin-backed-breakaway-regions-370349.html|author=Oleg Sukhov|work=Kyiv Post|archive-date=3 November 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103235928/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/a-prelude-to-a-farce-prearranged-ballots-for-kremlin-backed-breakaway-regions-370349.html|date=1 November 2014|access-date=13 May 2018}} This exclusion from the ballot effectively marked the end of Gubarev as a key player in the Donbas political scene.

After some time away from public life, in February 2016 Gubarev was appointed Yasynuvata Raion mayor by the Donetsk People's Republic. Although some reported this as Gubarev's 'comeback', he would only hold this position for a few months.{{cite news|url=http://www.neweasterneurope.eu/articles-and-commentary/1910-ukraine-s-eastern-separatist-leaders-turn-on-each-other|title=Ukraine's eastern separatist leaders turn on each other|publisher=New Eastern Europe|date=3 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100719/http://www.neweasterneurope.eu/articles-and-commentary/1910-ukraine-s-eastern-separatist-leaders-turn-on-each-other|url-status=dead}} Following the death of Alexander Zakharchenko, on 31 August 2018, elections were planned in the Donetsk People's Republic for a new leader, and Gubarev stated his intention of standing as a candidate for the post of head of the Donetsk People's Republic.{{citation|title=Боевики на Донбассе назначили "выборы"|trans-title=Militants in the Donbas call "elections"|newspaper=Ukrayinska Pravda|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2018/09/7/7191378/|date=7 September 2018}}{{citation|title=The danger of wanting to be boss, What to expect from "elections" in Donetsk and Luhansk|url=http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/220836|first1=Denys|last1=Kazanskyi|date=8 October 2018|newspaper=The Ukrainian Week|access-date=10 October 2018}} However, Gubarev was excluded from standing after being accused of having forged signatures on his nomination papers, with it said that his candidacy had displeased Denis Pushilin, who at that time was acting head of the DNR, and favourite to take the post permanently, which he duly did.{{citation|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2018/10/6/7194325/ |title=Боевики ОРДО не пустили на "выборы" своего "народного губернатора"|trans-title=ORDO Militants disallowed the "election" of their "people's governor"|newspaper=Ukrayinska Pravda}|date= 6 October 2018|access-date= 26 May 2024}} This effectively marked the end of Gubarev's political career in the DNR. His wife Ekaterina's political career would continue in Russian-controlled territories following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web|date=2022-11-16 |title=Kherson Region deputy head Ekaterina Gubareva reportedly missing |url=https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/11/16/ekaterina-gubareva-kherson-missing/|last=Roscoe |first=Matthew|website=Euro Weekly News |access-date=15 June 2023}}

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| quote =           Those are Russian people, who are possessed. We aren't coming to kill you, but to convince you. But if you don't want us to convince you, we'll kill you. We'll kill as many as necessary: 1 million, 5 million, or exterminate all of you.

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In 2022, Gubarev signed a short-term contract with the Russian Armed Forces, as a private, in order to participate in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Мнение: Павел Губарев под Киевом |url=https://ryb.ru/2022/03/18/1882029 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=ryb.ru |language=ru}} During his service there, he declared in an interview their goal to free from "possession" those who he considers to be Russians, even at the cost of killing them all, which would amount to genocide on Ukrainians.{{Cite web |title=DPR separatist Pavel Gubarev vows to 'exterminate' all Ukrainians who refuse to join Russia |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ukraine-russia-war-donetsk-putin-b2200925.html |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Independent|date=12 October 2022 }}

In May 2023, Gubarev became one of the leaders of the newly-founded Russian pro-war ultranationalist group the Club of Angry Patriots.{{Cite news |last=Faulconbridge |first=Guy |date=2023-05-13 |title=Pro-war nationalists say they are entering Russian politics to counter turmoil |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pro-war-nationalists-say-they-are-entering-russian-politics-counter-turmoil-2023-05-12/ |access-date=2023-06-09}}

In November 2023 Gubarev, publicising his new autobiography, spoke to Russian bloggers in interview. Gubarev spoke in detail on how the Donetsk People's Republic was created and managed under full control of Moscow represented by Vladislav Surkov, with local members of the criminal fraternity appointed as its "officials", such as Alexander Zakharchenko.{{Citation |title=То что мы 10 лет твердили! Губарев слил дыныры, Суркова и всю кремлевскую ОПГ|trans-title=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pczPXmQvnGc|language=en|access-date=28 November 2023}}{{Citation |title="ДНР создавали люди Януковича, это было не за идею а за деньги!" Губарев раскрыл всю правду про 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7xFHX3Fbwg|access-date=28 November 2023}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{War in Donbas}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gubarev, Pavel}}

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Sievierodonetsk

Category:Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine politicians

Category:Pro-Russian people of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Category:Prisoners and detainees of Ukraine

Category:Russian nationalists

Category:People from the Donetsk People's Republic

Category:Donetsk National University alumni

Category:Pro-Russian people of the war in Donbas

Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned

Category:Ukrainian collaborators with Russia

Category:Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions

Category:Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions

Category:Individuals designated as terrorist by the government of Ukraine

Category:Anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Ukraine