Pavel Yuryevich Gubarev (Russian: ??´??? ?´?????? ??´?????, pronounced ['pav??l 'j?r??v??t? 'gub?r??f], Ukrainian: ????? ???????? ???????), born 10 February 1983 in Sievierodonetsk, is a Ukrainian pro-Russian activist who proclaimed himself the "People's Governor" of the Donetsk Region at the Regional Assembly on 3 March 2014, after separatists seized the building.
Gubarev had earlier declared himself leader of the Donbass People's Militia.
But since then he has been sidelined by other separatist leaders and was banned from taking part in the 2014 Donbass parliamentary elections.
These elections also eliminated the post of "People's Governor".
Gubarev was not a major figure in local politics prior to the beginning of the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine.Shortly after declaring himself "People's Governor" on March 6, Gubarev was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for "advocating separatism" and "illegal seizure of power".
He faced up to ten years in prison.
On 7 May, Gubarev was freed in exchange for SBU officers detained earlier by the Donbass People's Militia.
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