Liubov Abravitova
Liubov Abravitova | |
|---|---|
| Любов Абравітова | |
 Abravitova in 2022 | |
| Ambassador of Ukraine to South Africa | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2020 | |
| President | Volodomyr Zelenskyy |
| Preceded by | Taras Kuzmych |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 November 1980 Bender, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union (now Moldova) |
| Alma mater | Odesa National University (BA) University of Geneva (MAS) |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Liubov Aleksandrivna Abravitova (Ukrainian: Любов Олександрівна Абравітова; born 5 November 1980) is a Ukrainian diplomat who is currently serving as the Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa, in office since 2020. Previously, she served as the Ambassador to Botswana from 2021 until 2024 and Mozambique from 2021 until 2025.
Early life and education
Abravitova was born on 5 November 1980 in Bender in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic and grew up in Odesa, Ukraine.[1] She graduated from the Odesa National University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and then from the University of Geneva with a Master of Advanced Studies specialising in European security issues.[2]
Diplomatic career
Abravitova started working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2003. She has been overseas in Ottawa (Canada), Brussels (Belgium), and Geneva (Switzerland).[2] While stationed in Belgium, she served as the vice-consul and was responsible for Belgium and Luxembourg.[2] Between 2007 and 2009, she was press attaché at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2]
Abravitova was the Counsellor of the Middle East and Africa Department of the foreign affairs ministry before she became counsellor of the Ukrainian embassy in South Africa in January 2017.[2] She was appointed chargé d'affaire of Ukraine in South Africa in August 2019.[2] On 14 April 2020, Abravitova was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to South Africa by president Volodomyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian Association of South Africa welcomed her appointment.[3] She presented her credentials to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on 19 November 2020.[4]
On 17 June 2021, Abravitova was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Botswana as well as to Mozambique on a part-time basis by Zelenskyy.[5][6] She presented her letters of credence to Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi on 17 September 2021 and to Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi on 20 October 2021.[7][8]
On 19 August 2024, Abravitova was sacked as ambassador to Botswana by Zelenskyy and replaced with Oleksiy Syvak.[9] She was dismissed as ambassador to Mozambique and replaced with Rostyslav Tronenko on 8 January 2025. She now only serves as Ukrainian ambassador to South Africa.[10]
Russo-Ukrainian War
On 3 March 2022, Abravitova described South Africa's decision to abstain on a United Nations General Assembly vote to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "puzzling" and "unacceptable".[11]
On 10 April 2022, Abravitova made a tweet in which she said that 45 days after Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she had not had a requested meeting with South African president Ramaphosa and International Relations and Cooperation minister Naledi Pandor. The tweet was criticised by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Clayson Monyela. Abravitova responded to Monyela's criticism by saying that her people are "dying, tortured, raped."[12]
On 19 November 2024, Abravitova called on the South African government to be consistent in its calls for world peace amid its inconsistent stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine while it held a proactive stance on the Israel-Hamas War.[13]
Personal life
Abravitova is fluent in Ukrainian, English, Russian and French.[2]
References
- ^ "Абравітова Любов Олександрівна - Посольство України у Південно-Африканській Республіці". web.archive.org. December 14, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of South Africa - Person". rsa.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "UAZA welcomes Ms. Liubov Abravitova as a newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to South Africa. – Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA)". Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Ukraine's ambassador presents credentials to South Africa's president". www.ukrinform.net. November 20, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №252/2021 — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №253/2021 — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of South Africa - Ambassador of Ukraine to SA and Mozambique presented Letters of Credence to President of the Republic of Mozambique". rsa.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of South Africa - Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Botswana Liubov Abravitova presented credentials to President Mokgweetsi Masisi". rsa.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Zelensky Appoints New Ambassador to Botswana". www.kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Zelensky replaces Ukraine's ambassador to Mozambique: who will head the diplomatic mission | УНН". unn.ua. January 9, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Ambassador 'puzzled' by SA's decision to abstain during UN vote". News24. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "'I had no choice, my people are dying': Ukraine ambassador to SA on her 'undiplomatic' tweet". SowetanLIVE. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Khoza, Amanda. "WATCH | SA proactive on Palestine but not on Ukraine, says Ukrainian ambassador". News24. Retrieved March 2, 2025.