List of ambassadors of Russia to South Africa

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa
Emblem of the Russian Foreign Ministry
Incumbent Roman Ambarov  [ ru ] since 6 September 2024
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Embassy of Russia in Pretoria
Style	His Excellency The Honourable
Reports to	Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seat	Pretoria
Appointer	President of Russia
Term length	At the pleasure of the president
Website	Embassy of Russia in South Africa

The ambassador of Russia to South Africa is the official representative of the president and the government of the Russian Federation to the president and the government of South Africa.

The ambassador and his staff work at large in the Russian embassy in Pretoria. ^[1] There is a consulate-general in Cape Town. ^[2] The current Russian ambassador to South Africa is Roman Ambarov  [ ru ], incumbent since 6 September 2024. ^[3] Since 1992, the ambassador to South Africa has had dual accreditation as the non-resident ambassador to Lesotho. ^[4]

History of diplomatic relations

Main article: Russia–South Africa relations

The forerunner of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and what was then the Union of South Africa were established in 1942. The Union of South Africa was at this time a dominion of the British Empire, and an agreement was reached on 21 February 1942 to open a consulate in Pretoria. ^[5] The first consul general, Nikolai Demyanov, was appointed in June 1942. Consuls were appointed for the next few years, until relations were broken off by the South African government on 14 February 1956. ^[5] Relations remained suspended throughout most of the twentieth century, during which time South Africa became a republic. With a thawing of relationships towards the late 1980s, and the ending of many of the Apartheid measures, relations were established on 9 November 1991. ^[6] With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, South Africa recognised the Russian Federation as its successor state, and full diplomatic relations were established on 28 February 1992. ^[2] That year the embassy in Lesotho was closed as part of cost-saving measures, and thereafter Russian interests have been represented by the embassy in South Africa, with the Russian ambassador to South Africa dually accredited to Lesotho. ^[4]

List of representatives of Russia to South Africa (1942–present)

Consuls-general in Pretoria (1942–1956)

Name	Title	Appointment	Termination	Notes
Nikolai Demyanov	Consul General	June 1942	March 1944
Ivan Zyabkin	Consul General	March 1944	1945
Pavel Antroshchenkov	Consul General	July 1946	1949
Aleksey Khripunov	Acting Consul General	1949	1952
Vasily Dozhdalyov  [ ru ]	Acting Consul General	1952	November 1955
Nikolai Ivanov	Consul General	November 1955	14 February 1956

Ambassadors of the Russian Federation to South Africa (1992–present)

Name	Title	Appointment	Termination	Notes
Yevgeny Gusarov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	31 December 1992	8 August 1997
Vadim Lukov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	8 August 1997	28 November 2000
Andrey Kushakov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	28 November 2000	22 June 2006
Anatoly Makarov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	22 June 2006	20 February 2012	Credentials presented on 15 August 2006
Mikhail Petrakov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	20 February 2012	3 July 2019	Credentials presented on 14 June 2012
Ivan Rogachyov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	3 July 2019	6 September 2024	Credentials presented on 15 October 2019
Roman Ambarov  [ ru ]	Ambassador	6 September 2024		Credentials presented on 27 March 2025

References

1. "Посольство Российской Федерации в ЮАР" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
2. "Russia - SA relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
3. "Посол" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
4. "Russia - Lesotho relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
5. "Южно-Африканский Союз" (in Russian). knowbysight.info. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
6. "Консульство СССР в Южно-Африканской Республике" (in Russian). knowbysight.info. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2025.