Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Withdraws Honorary Consul in the Dominican Republic Amid Public Outcry

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has declared the withdrawal of Victoria Yakimova, the honorary consul in the Dominican Republic. This decision comes in response to the publication of her photographs in the media, which sparked a sharp and negative public reaction. The MFA also announced the return of Ukraine's ambassador to Cuba to Kyiv, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

In a comment to Ukrinform, the MFA stated: "Considering that the materials published in the media have caused a sharp and negative public resonance, the MFA conducted an additional review of all circumstances and made the decision to revoke the patent, particularly in light of the opening of a full-fledged Ukrainian embassy in the Dominican Republic this year." These words confirm that the ministry takes public opinion and Ukraine's image abroad seriously.

Furthermore, the ministry reported on "appropriate personnel decisions in the central apparatus," which may indicate potential changes in management or approaches to appointing honorary consuls. The Ukrainian MFA emphasized that honorary consuls are not employees of the ministry, do not hold government or diplomatic positions, do not receive salaries or funds from the state budget, and are not endowed with functions of political representation of Ukraine.

The institution of honorary consuls, who are predominantly foreign citizens, is designed to provide voluntary assistance to the diplomatic system in specific narrow areas of consular issues. Their primary goal is to perform functions of consular protection for Ukrainian citizens. The MFA explains that during the selection of Victoria Yakimova, the Ukrainian ambassador to Cuba considered several factors, including the candidate's long-term residence in the country, possession of Ukrainian and foreign higher education, language proficiency, experience in government, auditing, and administrative activities, as well as expertise in the field of digital technologies.

Moreover, during the selection process, relevant recommendations and positive feedback from the Ukrainian community were taken into account. It is important to note that Ukraine also conducted a review regarding Yakimova's public activities and connections with the Russian Federation, highlighting the ministry's caution in selecting candidates for such positions.

The Ukrainian MFA also announced that regulatory requirements for honorary consuls will be strengthened. The ministry plans to conduct a review of the activities of all honorary consulates, after which decisions will be made regarding the advisability of the continued functioning of each of them. This indicates the ministry's intention to ensure higher standards in the selection and activities of honorary consuls.

It is worth recalling that on March 21, an office of the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine was opened in the Dominican Republic, with Victoria Yakimova appointed as the honorary consul. However, shortly after her appointment, criticism of Yakimova erupted on social media due to her past as a nude model and the presence of explicit erotic photographs in her profiles. Users also pointed out her images in a Russian kokoshnik, which further added to the negativity surrounding her image.

In response to the criticism, Victoria Yakimova stated that she "did not attempt to hide her previous life related to modeling," emphasizing that a modern woman "has the right to realize herself in her chosen profession." However, this statement was unable to quell the public outcry, which ultimately led to her withdrawal from the position.