Rule of Law Initiative Staff - Europe & Eurasia
Donna Wright
Director, Europe and Eurasia DivisionDonna worked as a civil defense litigator in Mississippi before joining ABA/CEELI in 2002 as a Rule of Law Liaison in Uzbekistan. She also served as a liaison in Kyrgyzstan and a Country Director in Albania. In 2004, Ms. Wright joined USAID as the Regional Democracy Advisor for the Central Asia Republics, and in 2006 she served as USAID’s Gender and Cross-cutting Issues Advisor in Afghanistan. In 2007, Ms Wright rejoined ABA/ROLI as Country Director for Georgia. Her areas of expertise include trafficking in persons, judicial reform, bar association development, and proposal writing. Ms. Wright holds a B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi and a J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law.
Albania
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
In Albania
Alketa Prifti, Field Finance Manager <aprifti@ceeli.icc-al.org>, holds an LL.B. in English language and literature from Tirana University. A year after graduation, she became an English teacher at the Turgut Ozal High School in Tirana. Alketa has also worked with the International Crisis Group, helping Kosovar refugees in Albania and collecting interviews for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Alketa joined the Rule of Law Initiative in June 2000. As part of her duties, Alketa manages the operations of the Albania office and handles office finance issues and legal translations.
Armenia
In Washington, D.C.
Julie Garuccio, <jgaruccio@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for the South Caucasus and Russia.
Dr. Karen Andreasyan, Staff Attorney <kandreasyan@abaceeli.am> has been with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since 2004. Prior to joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, he taught law at Yerevan State University, served as a Markle Senior Fellow at the Center for Socio-Legal Studies at Oxford University, and as a consultant for the Open Society Justice Initiative. Currently he is a member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia and also an adviser to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia.
Vardan Arzumanyan, Software Engineer <vartan@abaceeli.am> graduated from State Engineering Institute in 1996. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative he worked as an IT specialist with Armentel from 1988-2002, with Armenian Card from 2001 to 2003, and with Internews from 2003-2007.
Lori Duke, Rule of Law Liaison to the Legal Education Program <lduke@abaceeli.am> graduated from University of Texas School of Law in 1995 and received her undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 1989. After being admitted to the Texas Bar in 1995, Lori opened her law office in Austin working on family law and dependency cases. From 1998-2000, Lori clerked for Travis County District Court Judge Scott McCown. She returned to private practice, focusing on representing abused and neglected children in dependency cases in 2001. Lori had previous international experience as a student at the American University in Cairo and as an intern at AUC.
Barbara Edin, Legal Specialist, joined the Rule of Law Initiative in May 2007. She holds licenses to practice law in Maryland; the District of Columbia; Colorado; Louisiana and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Her law career has encompassed alternative dispute and a general practice. She most recently worked for the U.S. SBA on disaster assistance loans for the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. She is an Arbitrator with the National Association of Securities Dealers and the New York Stock Exchange. She was president of the Montgomery County Women’s Bar and chaired the Maryland Women’s Bar Judicial Selection Committee. She has served on the Maryland Bar Ethics Committee, Grievance Commission and established CLEs for new admittees and practicing lawyers. She has served on Montgomery County Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Women. She is named co-counsel on a class action case against the United States Postal Service for the Western District on disability discrimination. She received her B.A. from Tulane University, her J.D. from Loyola University and a Master’s degree from Drake University.
Narine Gasparyan, Armenia Rule of Law Staff Attorney <narine@abaceeli.am> researches and advises the ABARule of Law Initiative on legislation and legal issues and events in Armenia. She also organizes legal seminars. Narine came to the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in September 2001 with a background in international law, having worked as a lawyer for a World Bank project while at the Armenian Ministry of Health, for the resource center of the Tapan Eco-Club, and as an assistant at the Armenian National Court.
Arayik Ghazaryan, Staff Attorney <ara@abaceeli.am> received an LL.M. from the American University Law School in Yerevan., in 2001. He worked as the assistant to the U.S. Consul from 1992 to 2004. Arayik specializes in International Human Rights law, with a particular focus on European Court of Human Rights litigation and training. Arayik, who joined the Rule of Law Initiative at the end of 2004, lectures ECHR law for students, prosecutors, judges and practicing lawyers. In March 2006, he began publishing the ECHR Bulletin law journal.
Hasmik Hakobyan <hasmik@abaceeli.am> graduated from Yerevan State University Law Faculty and has received her L.L.M from American University of Armenia. She joined the Rule of Law Initiative in Armenia in 2001 and over the course of more than five years Hasmik has worked many programs and issues including the following: technical support to the creation of the Public Defender's Office of the Chamber of Advocates, criminal law reform issues, advocacy skills training, the General Meeting of Advocates in 2005, and the Qualification Examination for advocates in 2006. Prior to joining the Rule of Law Initiative, Hasmik was a member of the Collegium of Advocates of Armenia providing defense counsel in criminal and civil cases. From September 2001 to September 2003 she was a CEP local fellow, providing professional skills to students using interactive methods of teaching. From 1998 to 2000 she worked at the Land Registration and Titling Program, a USAID-funded project in Armenia.
Hasmik believes that the ABA Rule of Law Initiative and other legal initiatives' efforts in Armenia will make changes in society with the help of those who care about future of their country.
Liana Haroyan, Staff Attorney <liana@abaceeli.am>, first joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in September 2002 and worked for 2 years as a Criminal Law Reform Program assistant. In 2004 she was selected as a Public Interest Law Fellow at Columbia University Law School, in New York. While there, she interned with Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists. In October 2005, she joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as a staff attorney. Previously, she worked as a project coordinator at the Legal Aid Center, part of the Bar Association of Armenia.
Bruce Herr, Rule of Law Liaison to the Judicial Program <bherr@abaceeli.am> joined the Rule of Law Initiative in Armenia in January 2007, focusing on judicial independence and ethics programming. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and is admitted to practice law in New Mexico and Illinois. Early in his career he worked with a legal services program for Native Americans and as an appellate public defender; then for many years he practiced employment law with a private firm in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From 1999 to 2006 Bruce worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory on employment law issues. Bruce has worked on numerous committees drafting rules and developing policy and has spoken widely at seminars on employment law issues.
Gohar Hovsepyan, Information Manager and Interpreter <gohar@abaceeli.am> holds a Ph.D. in communication theory from Yerevan State University. She has been a professor at Yerevan State since 1993. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in 2000, Gohar worked as a chief editor with an international organization. At the Rule of Law Initiative she is responsible for interpretation, information coordination and public relations. She speaks Armenian, Russian, English and French.
Alenush Kirakosyan, Translator/Interpreter <akirakosyan@abaceeli.am> graduated from Yerevan State Linguistic University, receiving a master's degree in linguistics. She has been instructing a “Developing Writing Skills” course since 2004 at the same university. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, she worked as a translator and an English language teacher for local organizations. Alenush is also a member of Voluntary Service Organization in Armenia, working to promote voluntary service in Armenia and abroad.
Sofya Mkhitaryan, Field Finance Manager <sofia@abaceeli.am> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as an Office Manager in April 2000. In 1985, after graduating from the State Pedagogical University of Foreign Languages, Sofya was offered the position of the Deputy Director of the secondary school. She has worked with the following international organizations since 1989: Gyulbenkyan Foundation, Switzerland, CEC-TACIS/BCEOM, France, and EBRD/Lahmeyer International, Germany (Office/Administrative Manager); USAID/Hagler Bailly, USA (Program Specialist). Sofya earned a law degree from Galik University in August 2003.
Gayane Mkrtchyan, Staff Attorney <mgayane@abaceeli.am> has been with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since 2006. She has graduated from Yerevan State University Law Department and holds LLM from American University of Armenia and University of Connecticut School of Law. Her prior international experience includes work in the USA for a Connecticut State Senator, a Connecticut State Judge, and a corporation in New York. Currently Gayane is an Expert of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
Amy Righter, Criminal Law Liaison <arighter@abaceeli.am> graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with an emphasis on the dialectic between the emergent global economy and human rights demands after focusing on Russian Studies and traveling extensively in the former Soviet Union. Amy received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law. She has worked for the appellate division of the Massachusetts' Public Defender Office as well as the Federal Defender and Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco. She has spent the last 10 years working as a public defender handling cases from infractions to first degree murder.
Satenik (Zara) Soghomonyan, Administrative Coordinator <zara@abaceeli.am>, graduated from the English Language and History Department of the V. Bryusov Yerevan State Linguistic Institute. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in late 2004, she worked at Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia as a secretary in the supervision and audit department. Before that, she served in the customer service department of the “Elita” commercial bank and as a translator at the Ministry of Environmental Protection. She also worked in the marketing department at Nairit-2. Zara is fluent in Russian, Armenian and English.
Azerbaijan
In Washington, D.C.
Julie Garuccio <jgaruccio@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for the Caucasus and Russia.
Frank Hespe, Country Director for Azerbaijan,<Frank.Hespe@aba-az.org> is situated in Baku and took over the reigns for Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in June 2006. He joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as a liaison to Tajikistan in 2005, specializing in legal education reform. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall in 1988. He was a professor of law for more than 13 years, teaching international law, real estate law and interviewing techniques and served as the Dean of the Monterey College of Law, in Monterey, California, 2002-2005. Frank was in private practice in Carmel, California prior to serving as the dean. He was the Executive Director and Supervising Attorney of a countywide non-profit legal aid office, Legal Services for Seniors, for over ten years.
Gunay Abidovay, Office Assistant <gunay.abidova@aba-az.org> joined CEELI in February 2007. Gunay received her degree Bachelor’s in International Relations at Baku State University in June 2005. While studying there she had internship at the Ministry of Justice. Then she worked for ZTE Corporation as an Office Manager. Gunay’s native language is Azeri but she is also Fluent in Russian, and good in English and Turkish.
Sabina Aliyeva, Office Manager, <sabina.aliyeva@aba-az.com> received her Master degree in English Teaching from Azerbaijan State University of Languages, her Masters of Business Administration from Western University and a Bachelor in Law from Azerbaijan University. Sabina began her professional career as the Anchorwoman on the evening news on the largest TV stations in Azerbaijan. Before joining ABA-ROLI, Sabina worked for Counterpart International and Price, Waterhouse, Coopers. Sabina started with the ABA in September of 1999 as an Interpreter/Administrator. She was one of the 4 founding staff members of the ABA-Azerbaijan program and has seen the office grow to almost 40 employees presently. Later, Sabina was promoted to the position of Field Finance and Office Manager. Sabina is presently involved in cash management, preparation of monthly financial expense reports, as well as a myriad of administrative duties. Her historical knowledge, wisdom and great sense of humor are appreciated from Baku to Washington..
Valeriya Afandiyeva, Administrative Assistant <valeria.efendiyeva@aba-az.org> joined CEELI in August 2004. In 2001-2003, Valeriya served as the assistant to the director of the National Peace Foundation's South Caucasus Project. As a finalist in the Freedom Support Act undergraduate exchange program, she studied mass communications and journalism at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina for a year. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Russian philology at the Baku State University. Valeriya is fluent in Azeri, Russian and English and has a basic knowledge of Spanish.
Zeynab Ahmad, Junior Staff Attorney <zeynab.ahmad@aba-az.org> Zeynab Ahmad joined ABA CEELI in December 2005 where she worked first as a Legal Assistant on Gender and Human Rights programs and in September 2006 was promoted to Junior Staff Attorney position for Rule of Law Department. Ms. Ahmad is responsible for overseeing the creation of the first Women’s Bar Association in Azerbaijan and Continuing Legal Education Center among her many other duties. Ms. Ahmad received her Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Law in June 2001 and after graduation she worked about three years for IREX, International Research and Exchanges Board as a Program Assistant for two different exchange programs and later for two years she worked in private company. Zeynab's native language is Azeri but she is fluent in Russian, English and Turkish.
Agil Azimov, IT Manager <agil.azimov@aba.az.org> joined CEELI in March 2005. He graduated from Baku State University in 1998. Agil has six years IT experience with humanitarian organizations. Before CEELI Agil worked at the Open Society Institute as the AZERWEB.com website content manager and later at Project Harmony as a webmaster.
Alan Gabel, Criminal Law Liaison to Azerbaijan <alan.gabel@aba-az.org> joined CEELI in February 2006. He received his MA in Public Administration from the University of Cincinnati and attended graduate studies in City Planning from Georgia Tech and his J.D. from the University of Dayton. He has worked as the National Economic Director for the National League of Cities and as an assistant county prosecutor for Montgomery County, Ohio for 8 years as well as the city prosecutor of the City of Oakwood, Ohio. He has served as acting Judge and acting Magistrate in the State of Ohio. In his private practice, Alan tried numerous felony cases including a capital case and he has extensive experience in criminal litigation. Alan is a member of several organizations including the Dayton Bar Association and the University of Dayton Law School Alumni Board. He has been involved in past political campaigns including Jimmy Carter’s first campaign for President in New Hampshire and various Congressional and local campaigns.
Gunel Jafarova, Staff Attorney <gunel.jafarova@aba-az.com> joinedCEELI in July 2005 after graduating MA from the Baku State University International Law Department. She got her BA at 2003 at the same university. Before joining CEELI worked as an exchange and research programs assistant at international relations department at BSU. Currently, she is teaching legal studies at Qafqaz University too.
Lala Khalilli, Staff Attorney <lala.khalilli@aba-az.com> joined CEELI in July 2005. She received her LL.M. degree from Azerbaijan University in 1999. Lala worked at the Legal Clinic of Azerbaijan University and taught part-time Human Rights Law and International Law for 5 years. She has participated on international trainings and seminars concerning the international mechanisms of the protection of Human rights. She is fluent in Azeri, English, Russian and Turkish.
Katharine Larsen, Legal Education Specialist for Azerbaijan, <katharine.larsen@aba-az.org>, joined the Rule of Law Initiative in April 2007 as the Legal Education Legal Specialist for Azerbaijan. Her current work includes the development of legal clinics and street law programs; curriculum reform; and trainings in interactive teaching methodologies. Katharine most recently served as a law clerk to a federal district judge and as a litigation associate in a New York law firm. Previously, she worked on humanitarian aid projects throughout the former Yugoslavia. Katharine holds degrees from Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Iowa.
David Rubino, Rule of Law Liaison to Azerbaijan, dave.rubino@aba-az.org joined CEELI in December 2006. He graduated from Tufts University as an English major in 1992 and attended Fordham Law School in Manhattan. While in law school David served on the Battered Women's Advocacy Project, a student run organization that provides legal support to victims of domestic violence. David currently practices law in New York City and for the past ten years he worked as a civil litigator, most recently as a senior associate for Harris Beach. In his role as a senior associate, he served as a mentor to younger attorneys, and provided a number of Continuing Legal Education classes relative to effective advocacy skills. In his spare time, David volunteered his legal services in community efforts, including lecturing adult immigrants on their rights in the workplace and served as a voters' rights attorney in hotly contested elections.
Narmin Kerimbekova, Rule of Law Staff Attorney, narmin.kerimbekova@aba-az.org, joined CEELI in November 2006 as a Staff Attorney in the Rule of Law Program. Narmin received her bachelor’s degree in law from Baku State University in July 2005. She started her career as a Legal Assistant at Transparency Azerbaijan, providing free legal advice on corruption cases. She then worked as a lawyer in the “ Nasiraddin Tusi ” Medical Clinic. Currently, Narmin works on designing and implementing the Traveling Lawyers, Continuing Legal Education and Women’s Bar Association programs at ABA CEELI in Baku. Narmin’s native language is Azeri, but she is fluent in English, Russian, Turkish and is moderate in Spanish.
Legal Advocacy Center
Staff Members
Selcan Mammadli, Senior Staff Attorney/Center Coordinator <selcan.mammadli@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in April, 2006. She received LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2001 and an LL.M. in criminal law, criminal proceeding and crime detection from the same University in 2003 (honor diplomas). Currently she is pursuing her post-graduate study at the Baku State University, the Law Department. Her PhD thesis is “The Status of Advocates in Azerbaijan Republic and International Practice.” Before joining LAC, she worked as a lawyer for ADISAD Law Company and a legal editor for the National Center for State Courts on Azerbaijan Legal Database Project. She completed a three-month training program at the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg from April-June, 2005.
Lala Adilova, Office Manager <lale.adilova@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in April 2006. She received her bachelor's degree from the San Marino Academy of International Sciences in 1997. Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, she worked for the World Vision International as office manager, data manager and administrative assistant and for the National Center for State Courts on the Azerbaijan Legal Database as theoffice and finance manager.
Alibaba Rzayev, Mentor Attorney, <alibaba.rzayev@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in April 2006. He graduated from the Law Department of Baku State University in 1994. He has been practicing law since 1994 and became a member of Collegium of Advocates in 2004. Before joining LAC, he worked for international organizations such as Save the Children, Counterpart-International, Norwegian Refugee Council, IFES, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Open Society Institute. He also works as an instructor on the Criminal Law at Legal Clinic of the Khazar University.
Akif Alizade, Mentor Attorney, <akif.alizade@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in April 2006. He graduated from the Law Department of the Baku State University in 1995. In 2000, Alizade was awarded the “Best Advocate of the Year” award by the Human Rights Recourse Center for providing free legal aid to poor people. He is a chairman of a local NGO, Lawyers Committee on Human Rights. Also, he works as an instructor on Family Law at the Khazar University. He has written articles concerning problems of advocacy, protection of rights in criminal procedural legislation and judicial power. He is an author and editor of the book "Monitoring of Courts," published in 2005.
Arzu Guliyeva, Administrative Assistant <arzu.guliyeva@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May 2006. She received her B.A. in philology from the Baku State University in 2003 and master degree from the same University in 2005. (honor diplomas) Currently she is doing her postgraduate study at the National Sciences Academy of Azerbaijan Republic. Her PhD thesis is on "Yunus Amra's mysticism and Azerbaijan literature."
Lawyers
Ramil Tahirov <ramil.tahirov@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. He earned his Master Degree in International Law Department of the National Academy of Aviation in 2004 (honor diploma). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked for Azeri Inshaat Service Construction Company as a Project Coordinator and National Center for State Courts on Azerbaijan Legal Database Project as a legal editor.
Sevinj Aliyeva <sevinj_aliyeva@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 1998 and her LL.M in Criminal and Criminal Proceeding Law in 2000 (honor diploma). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, she worked as an instructor at the Azerbaijan International University, and as an observer for the “Fair Trial Standards Monitoring and Reporting” program organized by the OSCE Office in Baku, and at the Prison Watch organization. Currently she is pursuing her PhD at the National Sciences Academy of Azerbaijan Republic. Her thesis is on "Suspending Procedure of the Execution of Judgment." She is a co-author of a textbook on juvenile justice.
Shahin Ismayilov <shahin.ismayilov@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. He received his LL.B. from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan Republic in 2006 (honor diploma). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked for the Prosecutor's Office of the Baku, Khatai district, theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Juvenal Justice monitoring project jointly organized by the OSCE Baku Office and the NGO, Alliance on Children Rights.
Gunel Abdurahimova <gunel_abdurahimova@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2006. Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, she worked for the Azerbaijan Lawyers Association as a project assistant, executor and as an observer for the Fair Trial Standards Monitoring and Reporting Program organized by the OSCE Office in Baku and ODIHR. She also worked as a lawyer at the Baku City Executive Power.
Azer Nagiyev <azer.nagiyev@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. He received his LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2004 and LL.M. in the Theory of State and Law from the same University in 2006 (honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked as a lawyer at the Azerbaijan Young Lawyers Union and won the competition for conducting training in the regions on ECHR jointly organized by the ABA Rule of Law Initiative and USAID.
Shafa Jamalzade <shefa_jamalzade@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2003 and her LL.M. in Commercial and Civil Law, in 2005 (honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, she worked as a lawyer for the Advocate Service Law Firm, Metanet-A Company. She also worked at the National Center for State Courts on the Azerbaijan Legal Database Project as a legal editor. Currently, she also works as an instructor on Family Law at the Khazar University.
Ruslan Yolchuyev <ruslan.yolchuyev@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. In 2004, he received LL.M from the National Aviation Academy. Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked as an assistant of director at DHT Metal Company and at Baku Electronics as a credit expert.
Parvin Mammadova <parvin.mammadova@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2004 and her LL.M. from the same University in 2006(honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center she worked for the Association for the Protection of Women's Rights in Azerbaijan named after D.Aliyeva as a co-head of the Centre of Young Leaders and head of International Relations Department.
Rovshan Ahmadov <rovshan.ahmadov@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. In 2003 he received his LL.B from the Azerbaijan International University. Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked as a lawyer at the Educational Center for Youth, ALPI LTD and Potential Union of Sumgayit Specialists.
Nigar Sadikhova <nigar.sadikhova@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2002 and LL.M. from the same University in 2004 (honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, she worked for the VIZA law firm and was an observer for the Monitoring of the Courts project jointly organized by the Legal Education Society and OSCE's Baku office.
Emil Gurbanov <emil_gurbanov@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. He received his LL.B. from the Khazar University in 2004. Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked for the AtaLeasing JSC and the Legal Education Society as a lawyer. Currently he is doing his LL.M. in Civil and Commercial Law, at Baku State University.
Mehriban Ovchuyeva <mehriban.ovchuyeva@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2003 and LL.M. in Civil and Commercial Law from the same university in 2005 (honor diploma). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center she worked at the Baku State University Law Clinic as office manager.
Bakhtiyar Aliyev <baxtiyar.aliyev@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. He received his LL.B. from the Khazar University in 2002 and LL.M. in 2004 (honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked at the Legal Education Society as a lawyer.
Lamia Mammadova <lamia.mammadova@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in May, 2006. She received her LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2004 and LL.M. in Civil and Commercial Law from the same University in 2006 (honor diplomas).
Anar Gasimov <anar.gasimov@lac-aba.az> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Legal Advocacy Center in August, 2006. He received his LL.B. from the Baku State University in 2003 and LL.M. in Civil and Corporative Law from the same university in 2005. (honor diplomas). Before joining the Legal Advocacy Center, he worked as a lawyer for various firms and as co-editor-in-chief of the newspaper Mubariz Azerbaijan.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova and Bosnia.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nebojša Milanovic, Country Director <nesom@abaroli.ba> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as a legal counsel based in the Banja Luka office, working with liaisons and providing advice on local law. Nebojša earned his law degree in 1987, after which he worked for various government agencies and for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Milanovic is originally from Doboj.
Selma Osmanagic Agovic, Staff Attorney <selma@abaroli.ba> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in March 2006, focusing on the Criminal Law Reform Project. She was involved in preparing and publishing the Rule of Law Initiative's compilation of all war crimes decisions in BiH from 1992-2006. Previously, she worked at the Directorate of European Integration on harmoziation of domestic laws with EU legislative. She obtained her law degree from the University of Sarajevo in February 2004, and in December 2005 she earned her Master's degree in State Management and Humanitarian Affairs at La Sapienza University and Sarajevo University.
Sanin Muftic, Office/Finance Manager <saninm@abaroli.ba> assists in preparing and conducting training seminars, workshops, roundtables and other events and provides translation services. Before joning the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Sanin worked for five and a half years at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) as an interpreter/assistant in the Department for Regional Stabilization (fpcusing on the implementation of Annex 7B of the Dayton Peace Accord). Fluent in English and French and a native speaker of Bosnian, Sanin has completed coursework in mediation and other forms of out-of-court settlement and served as a member of the working group for drafting the Law on Mediation.
Dubravka Piotrovski, Senior Staff Attorney <dubravka@abaroli.ba> graduated from the Sarajevo Law School in 1990 and passed the bar exam in Belgrade in 1993. As a member of Belgrade Bar Association, she practiced law for nearly ten years before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative. In 2000, Dubravka was an environmental law fellow at the Rule of Law Initiative in Washington, D.C. Dubravka has worked as a national legal advisor for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and as a lawyer at the Office of the High Representative (OHR). Prior to working in international organizations, she worked as intern in a law office and at the Basic Court I, both in Sarajevo.
Bulgaria
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
In Bulgaria
Detelin Ivanov, Staff Attorney, Regional Criminal Justice Initiative <detelin@aba-bg.org> holds an LL.M. from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University (Bulgaria), an LL.M. in Human Rights from the Central European University (Hungary), and an M.A. in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe from the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and University of Bologna (Italy).
Georgia
In Washington, D.C.
Julie Garuccio <jgaruccio@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for the Caucasus and Russia.
In Georgia
John Brown, Rule of Law Legal Specialist, Georgia, <john.brown@abarol.ge> joined ABA in December 2006. Currently, John is working on our Rule of Law Program that is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). John received his J.D. from the Nashville School of Law, he also holds a degree to practice pharmacy from the University of Tennessee. John has been a General Sessions Court Judge for 24 years and has presided over high volume caseload of limited jurisdiction civil, misdemeanor criminal, felony preliminary hearings, municipal, mental health and traffic cases. His duties also included the management for a 9 judge court and 75 employees. John was the Chair for the Justice Integration Services Policy Committee where he was instrumental in the oversight, planning, design, purchasing, installation and implementation of and integrated justice system for 24 judges, 5 court clerks and 17 member agencies. He has taken the lead on this since 1988. John is the past president of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Association was the Citizen Representative of the Metropolitan Nashville Broadband Taskforce 2006. He and his wife are looking forward to their time spent in Georgia.
Mariam Bandzeladze, Staff Attorney <mariam@abarol.ge> joined ABA Kutaisi office in April 2001 after serving as an office manager for a humanitarian NGO. Mariam holds a B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature and B.A law degree. She is currently a student of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs in the Public Administration faculty. Marika successfully passed the bar exams. At ABA she works on the judicial reform portfolio.
Tea Chelidze, Executive Assistant/Office Manager <tea@abarol.ge> joined ABA in July 2004 after providing administrative and translation support to several companies in Georgia. Tea graduated from Ilia Chavchavdze State University of Western Languages and Culture - English Department. She is currently a student at the Caucasus Academic Centre – Business Administration Faculty. Georgian is her native language and she speaks English, Russian and Spanish.
Irina Japharidze, Staff Attorney <irinaj@abarol.ge> joined ABA in February 2002 after providing administrative, translation and managerial support to several international private companies in Georgia. Irina holds a B.A. degree in economics and law from the German Language Faculty of Georgia State Technical University in Tbilisi and has successfully passed the bar examination in Civil Law in September 2004. In addition to her native Georgian, Irina speaks German, English, Russian, French and some Italian.
Irina's dedicated work during the past two years made it possible to establish the first independent professional association of lawyers - Georgian Bar Association (GBA). Irina was actively involved in the drafting of the Codes of Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure for Advocates, which was adopted unanimously by more than 500 practicing lawyers in Georgia. Forming the GBA was a crucial step in preventing the government from taking over regulation of the legal profession and undermining the independence of lawyers. ABA is working to make the GBA a self sustainable and strong organization. ROLI assisted the GBA to make the bar examination a self sustainable activity and supported administration of several rounds of exams. ABA in cooperation with RADA Institute organized training for the Executive Board of the GBA and helped them to draft its first 5 years strategic plan. In addition, ROLI trained ethics committee members and trainers on ethics and is planning to train all lawyers on ethics issues throughout Georgia. In the future, the ethics training will be incorporated in the Continuous Legal Education Program of the GBA that ABA is currently assisting to create.
Maia Jorjikia, Senior Staff Attorney <m_jorjikia@abarol.ge> joined ABA in 2005 after working at IRIS Georgia as a senior staff attorney. Prior to joining IRIS, she worked as a consultant for the Georgian Supreme Court, a legal advisor for the Georgian Ministry of Justice and as a senior consultant for the Georgian High Council of Justice. She also worked for the German Technical Cooperation Society (GTZ) as a coordinator and expert. Maia received her law degree from the Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and her LLM from the Bremen University in Germany. In addition to her native Georgian, Maia speaks Russian, English, German and some French. At ABA Maia works primarily on enforcement of judgments project and gender issues.
Nino Khurtsidze, Senior Legal Advisor <nkhurtsidze@abarol.ge> joined ABA Georgia office in June 2004 after working at ABA-DC as a Legislative Fellow since September 2002. Prior to joining CEELI, she worked at the Transnational Crime and Corruption Center's (TraCCC) Washington, DC office. Since June 2006, Nino Khurtsidze is also serving a three-year term as the Chair of the Accreditation Council for Institutions of Higher Education in Georgia. She is a lecturer of Public International Law at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Law. Nino received a law degree from Tbilisi State University, M.A. in Diplomacy and International Commerce from the University of Kentucky, and B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Western Kentucky University. She is a Ph.D. Candidate at American University's School of International Service.
Daniel S. Linhardt, Criminal Law Legal Specialist <daniel@abarol.ge> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in September 2007. Currently Dan works on ABA Georgia’s Criminal Law Program which is funded by DOJ-OPDAT (Department of Justice- Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training) and the U.S State Department, INL. He received his J.D.degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California (Sacramento) from 1987-2006 where for the last eight years he was the Chief of the White Collar Fraud Unit. Before moving to Sacramento he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans) for four years. Prior to going to DOJ he was a Trial Attorney for the Interstate Commerce Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement for 12 years. Following law school he had been in private practice in New York City.
Mamuka Mamatsashvili, Criminal Law Junior Staff Attorney <mamuka@abarol.ge> graduated from Tbilisi State University in 1996, and joined ABA in 2002, where he worked as a Program Assistant until assuming his current position. Prior to joining ABA, Mamuka worked as a Senior Inspector at the drug trafficking and narcotic unit for Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs. He also worked as a Deputy for the Inspector General's Office in the Ministry of Finance.
Medea (Medo) Matiashvili, Junior Staff Attorney <medo@abarol.ge> holds a law degree from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In 2003-2004, she was studying at Budapest Business School at the Department of International Business and Management, where she studied fundamental principals of international economic and international law. Prior to joining ABA as a Junior Staff Attorney, Medea served as a ABA Street Law Intern and the Deputy Chair of the Georgian Law Students' Association. She primarily works on ABA Legal Education portfolio. She is a PhD candidate at the Tbilisi State University, department of Law.
Ani Morgoshia, Staff Attorney <ani@abarol.ge> joined ABA in December 2005. Previously, Ani worked as a Team Leader/Field Lawyer for the Norwegian Refugee Council and for the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and contributed to projects with the U.S. Embassy and American University's Transnational Crime and Corruption Center in Georgia. She delivers lectures in law at Tbilisi State University Law Faculty and Public Administration Institute. Ani graduated from Tbilisi State University Law Faculty and expects to graduate from the Department of Doctoral Studies with honors in 2006 with a Ph.D. in Law. She holds Masters Degree in Public Administration certified by the National Academy of Public Administration of the U.S.
Nini Tabatadze, Field Financial Manager <ninot@abarol.ge> joined ABA in 2004. Nini graduated from the Caucasus School of Business - Business Administration. She speaks Georgian, Russian, English and French.
Maka Tsinadze, Receptionist <maka@abarol.ge> joined ABA in July 2003 as intern. In July 2005 she became the member of CEELI staff. Maka holds bachelor's degree in English from Georgian Technical University.
Natia Urtkmelidze, Administrative Assistant <natia@abarol.ge> joined CEELI in November 2004 as intern and in 2005 she became the member of ABA staff. She has graduated Georgian Independent University of Georgian and English Languages.
Kosovo
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova and Bosnia.
In Kosovo
David Sip, Country Director <dsip@ceelikosovo.org> is the Director for the ABA's program in Kosovo, and rejoins the ABA after having served as the team leader for the judicial reform index update in Kosovo in 2005, and as a legal specialist for a citizenship project for stateless Roma in Macedonia in 2004. David has 20 years of experience in the development and management of democracy, human rights, and rule of law programs, and has served in 15 countries - for the National Democratic Institute, the International Rescue Committee, and USAID. David was an organizer for the East Side Neighborhood Development Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, integrating citizen planning and action into housing and commercial development activities. He also worked as a civil rights investigator and legal aid/human rights lawyer, and previously taught high school English and African Literature while posted with the U.S. Peace Corps in Kenya. A Chicago-Calumet Region Midwest native, David received his JD from Drake University in Iowa.
Vjosa Hasanaj, Legal Assistant <vhasanaj@ceelikosovo.org> provides support to Kosovo associations in the legal field, including the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates and Kosovo Judges Association. Before joining CEELI in April 2002 to support the ABA Rule of Law Initiative 's training programs, she worked as a financial assistant at local company and as a telecommunications operator for a UN organization. She is currently pursuing her legal studies in the Law Faculty of the University of Pristina.
Fortuna Haxhikadrija, Communications and Outreach Coordinator <fhaxhikadrija@ceelikosovo.org>, joined ABA Rule of Law Initiative in Kosovo in October 2007. Her professional experience among others involves, working for Joel L. Fleishman Fellows Program in Civil Society at Duke University, The Urban Institute in DC, Koha Ditore daily newspaper in Prishtina, Zeri daily in Pristina, Radio Free Europe, French-German Youth Organization. She was a consultant to a number of international projects implemented in Kosovo. Fortuna received her Master's in International Development Policy (concentration: Tax Policy and Administration) from the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University. She was an active participant at DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy - Sanford Institute, sharing her Kosovo media experience with other international media fellows. She received her B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from University of Pristina, Kosovo.
Fatmir Kutllovci, Acting Senior Staff Attorney <fkutllovci@ceelikosovo.org> provides professional support and expertise to Kosovo legal associations, including the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates and the Kosovo Judges Association. He also supports the Legal Clinic at the Law Faculty in Pristina. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Fatmir worked for the Council of Europe as a training programme coordinator and for the Civil Rights Project as a program manager. He received his law degree in 1997 from Pristina University.
Arianit Osmani, Translator <aosmani@ceelikosovo.org> joined the ABA in January 2007. Arianit is attending his final year of the law studies in the Prishtina Law Faculty. After completing the High School of Philology in 1999, he won a scholarship for a One-Year English Course at the American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad. From 2001-2006, Arianit worked with Eastern European Outreach, initially running the Child Sponsorship Program for needy families in Kosovo, and later promoted to EEO Kosovo Director. In June 2006 he got a job at the Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo as Customer Relations Officer till January 2007.
Laura Rakovica, Project Coordinator <lrakovica@ceelikosovo.org> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2002 and is responsible for day to day operations of the organization's Pristina office. Before joining the ABA , Laura attended the North-West college of English in London in the United Kingdom, where she also worked as an administrative assistant and interpreter specializing in immigration and criminal law for a solicitors' company. She later served as an interpreter for the Magistrate Courts, the police force, and the Immigration and Nationality Department. Laura returned to Kosovo at the end of 2001.
Fadil Sadiku, Office Finance Manager <fsadiku@ceelikosovo.org> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in October 2000. He studied electronics at the University of Pristina, but left in 1991 to complete the Technical University in Basel, Switzerland. He returned to Kosovo in 1999 and has previously worked for the UN Civilian Police Logistics and Communication Section.
Kazakhstan
In Washington, D.C.
Irina Parshikova <iparshikova@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central Asia.
Clayton Adams <cadams@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Associate Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan.
Ivan Abrams, Country Director for Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan, <tuscon3985@gmail.com> is a former federal and state prosecutor from Tucson, Arizona. In his 32 years of practice, he has also been an advocate for human and civil rights, a criminal defense lawyer, and a Naval officer. Ivan joined the Rule of Law Initiative in January 2006 as a Criminal Law Legal Specialist in Bulgaria. While there, he helped develop and present training in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime and public corruption cases. He also worked on the implementation of the ABA's Prosecutorial Reform Index for Bulgaria. In May 2007, Ivan joined the Kazakhstan team as the Technical Legal Advisor to work on the Regional Legal Advocacy Program. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ivan holds a B.A. degree in History, a J. D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and an LLM in International Trade Law from the University of Arizona. He speaks English and Spanish, and is studying Russian.
Nozima Medeubayeva, Deputy Country Director for Kazakhstan, <medeubayevan@abaroli.kz> re-joined the ABA in January 2007 after leaving for the European Commission's delegation in Kazakhstan as a Project Manager in May 2006. A native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she graduated from Tashkent State University with a specialization in Russian philology, including 4 years of study at Moscow State University. Nozima’s second degree in law was received from the Adilet Law School in Almaty. She has previously worked as the Field Finance Manager and as a Staff Attorney on a Street Law-like Program for the ABA Almaty office.
Yekaterina Shapkina, Field Finance Manager/Office Manager, <shapkina@msc-law.kz> graduated with honors from Kazakh State University of International Relations and World Languages and holds a B.A. in Linguistics. Before joining the Almaty office in February, 2005 she worked as a Deputy Manager in a Chinese oil and gas company.
Kyrgyzstan
In Washington, D.C.
Irina Parshikova <iparshikova@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central Asia.
Hakim A. Lakhdar <hlakhdar@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan.
In Kyrgyzstan
Marit Rasmussen Country Director, Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan <mrasmussen@staff.abanet.org> was a CEELI Rule of Law Liaison in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2003. Later, as Research and Development Director for the Mental Disability Advocacy Center in Hungary, Ms. Rasmussen managed a multi-country research and advocacy project on guardianship and disability law. She has also served as Deputy Director of the International Senior Lawyers Project in New York. Ms. Rasmussen practiced in Chicago where she specialized in children’s rights, domestic violence, and disability law serving as both Special Counsel to the Guardian at the Department of Children and Family Services and as an Assistant Public Guardian. A published author, Ms. Rasmussen has contributed to reports and articles on international human rights protection of persons with disabilities.
Azamat Kerimbaev, Deputy Country Director <akerimbaev@abaceeli.kg> monitors and analyzes legal developments in Kyrgyzstan while also working with ABA Legal Specialists to develop new programs. Azamat joined the ABA in May 1999 after working at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington, D.C., and in the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A native of Bishkek, Azamat holds a law degree from the Kyrgyz State University and a degree in international relations from the Kyrgyz Diplomatic Academy. > Read More
Albina Kozhontaeva, Field Finance Manager/Street Law Coordinator, <albinaosh@elcat.kg> coordinates the Street Law program both in secular schools and madrassas and is in charge of field finance management. Albina joined the Rule of Law Initiative Osh office in January 2001 after working in communications and interpreting for TACIS. Albina has also served as an interpreter for the Foundation for Tolerance International, ACDI/VOCA and OCSE.
Venera Kutmamatova, Osh Office Program Assistant, <k_venera@elcat.kg> assists in implementation of the Street Law program in Southern Kyrgyzstan. Venera joined the ABA Osh office in July 2005 working on the CRAN (Citizens' Rights Advocacy Network) project as a Program Assistant. After the completion of the CRAN project she was selected for the same position with the legal education reform program, starting in December 2005. She received her English degree from Osh State University and her law degree from International University of Kyrgyzstan in Osh. She has worked at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek University in Osh, ACDI/VOCA and other local and international organizations.
Anvar Mukanbaev, Staff Attorney, <amukanbaev@abaceeli.kg> joined the ABA in November 2003 with extensive experience working with international organizations and the Government of Kyrgyzstan. He has been active in various capacities with the Asian Development Bank, USAID, the World Bank, the Judicial Department of the President's Administration of Kyrgyzstan and State Committee on Investment Policy of Kyrgyzstan. Anvar holds a bachelor's degree in law from the International University of Kyrgyzstan and an LL.M. from the University of Minnesota.
Muhaio Parpieva, Institution Building Advisor, <mparpieva@abaceeli.kg> has worked with the ABA since August 2003. She assists partner organizations in strategic planning, program design and financial management. Before joining the ABA, she worked as a pre-service training associate director with the U.S. Peace Corps, as the coordinator of the Ferghana Valley Initiatives Program with the Eurasia Foundation, and the coordinator for the Women's Micro Credit Program with Mercy Corps International.
Kristina Ross, < kross@elcat.kg> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as a Criminal Law Legal Specialist in May 2007. Previously she was a criminal appeals staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society in New York City, and worked for New York City's Department of Finance. She holds a BA in History from New York University and a JD from the City University of New York.
Temir Tashmamatov, Staff Attorney, <ttashmamatov@elcat.kg> joined the ABA in Osh in November 2006. He assists in the development of the Street Law program for madrassas in southern Kyrgyzstan. Temir has extensive experience working with various legal and financial international companies in Kyrgyzstan. He received his law degree from Osh State University in 2000. Prior to joining the ABA, Temir worked as a lawyer at the Microcredit company "Financial Group Kompanion", in the field of security deposit relations.
Ulan Aralbaev, Bishkek Program Assistant, <uaralbaev@abaceeli.kg> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in January 2007 as a program assistant for the Bishkek office. He received his English degree at the World Languages Institute in Bishkek in 2003. Ulan has had experience working in a variety of state and international organizations. He started his career working at the Kyrgyz - Turkish Manas University and Kyrgyz State Architectural University as an English language instructor. Before joining the ABA, Ulan also worked for the Japanese International Cooperation Agency as a project officer.
Madina Talatbekova, Deputy Field Finance Manager / Bishkek Office Manager, <madinat@abaceeli.kg> joined the ABA in February 2005. She received her English degree from Osh State University and her economics degree (finance and credit) from Kyrgyz State National University. She assists in financial management and administers the day-to-day business of the Bishkek office. Her previous job experience includes working for Every Child (UK), Demir Bank and Save the Children (UK).
Moldova
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova and Bosnia.
In Moldova
Stephen Larrabee, Country Director, <slarrabee@abaceeli.md> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in October 2007. Mr. Larrabee has worked on a variety of humanitarian programs in Central Asia and the Caucuses for over ten years. Mr. Larrabee served as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1997 in Uzbekistan where he worked in collaboration with ABA/CEELI on a comparative law program for judges and lawyers, and helped to start-up a local Economic Education NGO that functions in all 13 regions of the country. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the NGO. In 2001, Mr. Larrabee moved to the Republic of Georgia to help implement and manage a Rule of Law project that emphasized Human Rights and the development of the NGO sector. Mr. Larrabee also served as Chief of Party for a multi-faceted Education project in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and lectured at the University of World Economics and Diplomacy in the International Law Department. In 2004, Mr. Larrabee worked for the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law as their regional director for Central Asia where he was responsible for implementing reforms in the NGO sector in all five countries of the region. Mr. Larrabee also worked for over five years for two Fortune 500 companies in the Aerospace industry and is a graduate of the George Washington University Law school (J.D.), the George Washington University Business School (M.B.A.) and the University of Massachusetts (B.B.A).
Catalina Aalbers, Criminal Law Staff Attorney <c.aalbers@abaceeli.md> holds a Law Diploma in International Law from the State University of Moldova and during her internship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs served as a junior legal expert on preparing the National Report on Implementation by Moldova of the ICCPR. Prior to joining the Initiative in June 2002, first as legal assistant, she worked as editor-translator at the State Civil Aviation Administration.
Iurie Bodiu, Assistant Office Manager <iurii@abaceeli.md> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in December 2001 and provides general office management support. Iurie holds degrees from the Academy of Economic Science, Economy and Management and the Republican Technical School of Electronics.
Emil Darii, Institution Building Advisor <edarii@abaceeli.md> joined the Initiative team in Moldova in July 2004. Previously, Emil worked with the Citizen Network for Foreign Affairs and TACIS Cross-Border-Cooperation, Ungheni. Emil holds an M.A. in Public Administration from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, and in Political Science from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Read more »»
Olimpia Iovu, Criminal Law Staff Attorney <olimpia_iovu@abaceeli.md> holds a Law Diploma in International Law from the State University of Moldova. She joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in July 2005 as a legal assistant for the Criminal Law Program. She previously worked for 3 years as a Legal Adviser at the Governmental Agent Department, Ministry of Justice. She speaks Romanian, Russian, English and French.
Ion Miron, Office Manager/ Field Financial Manager, <imiron@abaceeli.md> joined the ABA ROLI team in February 2008. Prior to working with the ABA, he worked as Project Assistant with several donor-funded projects implemented in the social/health and economic sectors of Moldova. He holds a Bachelor's degree in humanities from the “Babes-Bolyai” University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and a MBA from the Technical University of Moldova in cooperation with Ghent University, Belgium. He is fluent in English, Finnish and Russian.
Dina Mocan, Legal Assistant <dmocan@abaceeli.md> graduated from the State University of Moldova in June 2006 with a Law Diploma in Economic Law. Dina first joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in June 2005 as legal intern. In February 2006 she was hired as a full-time Program Assistant and in January 2007 was promoted to Legal Assistant. Dina is responsible for assisting both Rule of Law and Criminal Law staff in coordinating program activities and conducting legal research. She speaks Romanian, Russian and English.
Gabriel Mumjiev, Program Coordinator <gabriel@abaceeli.md> is responsible for coordinating the Traveling Lawyer Program. Gabriel also assists with various other Initiative projects. He came to the Initiative in March 2002 after working as a program coordinator for the Soros Foundation, the International Foundation for Election Systems, and as a journalist for a private TV station. Gabriel holds a degree in journalism and communication from Bucharest State University in Romania.
Leslie Reed, Long Term Legal Specialist <lreed@abaceeli.md>joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2007 as a one year Legal Specialist working on judicial reform, access to justice, and gender issues. She has a J.D. and a B.A. in Political Science and German from the University of Colorado and was a commercial litigator for 23 years before joining the Peace Corps in 2005. As a Peace Corps volunteer, she served as a teacher trainer in Kyrgyzstan, building on her past experience as a moot court faculty advisor and legal writing/appellate advocacy lecturer at the University of Colorado School of Law and as a part time faculty member at the Denver Paralegal Institute. Leslie has studied Russian, German and Spanish.
Scott Reed, Long Term Legal Specialist <sreed@abaceeli.md>joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in June 2008 as a one year Legal Specialist working on criminal law and corruption issues. He has a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in History from the University of Colorado. He was a corporate and securities lawyer for 25 years before joining the Peace Corps in 2005. As a Peace Corps volunteer, he worked with a local NGO in Kyrgyzstan that oversaw the functioning of five rural community learning centers and that promoted national vocational education reform. He also has taught Business English to corporate employees in Moldova. Scott has studied Russian and Italian.
Romania
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Madeleine Crohn, Country Director <mcrohn@abaceeli.ro> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2003 to oversee its rule of law programs in Romania. She obtained her international public law and comparative literature degrees in Paris. Her past positions were all with non-profit organizations involved in justice reforms including: pretrial diversion in the Criminal Courts in New York City, head of the Pretrial Services Resource Center and of the National Institute for Dispute Resolution - both in Washington D.C.; most recently, as principal project director at the National Center for State Courts, where she administered rule of law projects worldwide.
Genoveva Bolea, Program Coordinator <genoveva@abaceeli.ro> graduated from the Letter Faculty of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, Romania. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative's Moldova office as a legal assistant in 1998, she worked as an English/Romanian teacher for three years and as a translator for various organizations. She first worked on the Rule of Law Initiative's environmental law program for two and a half years, after which she worked on the rule of law program until February 2002. The next month she transferred to Romania, where she has worked on the rule of law program ever since. Genoveva is fluent in English and Romanian and intermediate in French.
Ramona-Elena Cherciu, Junior Staff Attorney <rcherciu@abaceeli.ro> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2006 as a Legal Assistant. Starting July 2006 she became a junior staff attorney. She graduated from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy in 2004 and she obtained her law degree from the University "Nicolae Titulescu"- Bucharest in June 2006. Cherciu participated in international study-programs in European Studies (Austria, France, Ireland) and law moot court competitions involving human rights law, humanitarian law, and international law. She is fluent in English and French.
Adina Edu, Office Manager <adina@abaceeli.ro> has been with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since September 2001. In September 2000, she graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies-Bucharest, Faculty of Commerce, obtaining a license diploma in marketing. A year later, in June 2001, she finished the postgraduate studies at the same faculty, with a diploma in marketing systems.
Raluca Stancescu, Staff Attorney <rstancescu@abaceeli.ro> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in September 2006. She obtained her law degrees in Bucharest and Paris, and holds a master in public administration from the French National School of Administration. Previously, Raluca was a lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. She also worked with the Romanian Ministry of Public Administration, and was an expert with an EU funded program on legal reform in Romania. She is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Russia
In Washington, D.C.
Julie Garuccio < jgaruccio@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for the Caucasus and Russia.
Kristin Kowalew <kkowalew@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Ukraine and Russia.
In Russia
Gleb Glinka, Country Director, Russia <gglinka@staff.abanet.org> joined the ABA in February 2008. Born in Brussels, Belgium, he was raised and educated in the United States at Reed College, Yale University, and Temple School of Law. After working with Legal Aid in Vermont as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, Mr. Glinka served as Legal Counsel to the Vermont Secretary of State from 1982 to 1985 and as the first law clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Vermont from 1985 to 1987. Since 1988, Mr. Glinka served on the Standing Panel of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees and since 1998 as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vermont Law School. Since 1986 he has been a founding partner of Glinka & Walls (formerly Glinka & Schwidde), a firm with an AV rating in Martindale-Hubbell and with offices in Cabot and Middlebury, Vermont, which concentrates in commercial law, bankruptcy, and international law. Last year he was the recipient of the Vermont Pro Bono Award. In addition to maintaining a private practice, teaching, and serving as a trustee, Mr. Glinka has consulted widely and managed projects abroad for USAID, TACIS, DFID, and others in Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, and Georgia.
Anton Alferov, Directing Attorney Anti-Corruption Project <aalferov@abamos.ru> joined the Moscow office in March 2007. He provides technical and legal expertise in the areas of combating corruption on the municipal level and combating human trafficking. Previously, he worked at the Incom Press, Moscow Public Scientific Foundation, The Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the International Republican Institute. He holds a PhD in legal sciences from the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences and has extensive experience in project management, contract administration, grants management and local self government projects.
Julia Antonova, Director Attorney for Gender Programs <jantonova@abamos.ru> has been with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since May 2006. She graduated from the History Department of the Samara State University and Law Department of the Moscow State University of the Economics, Statistics and Information Technology. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Julia worked as Program Director and Senior Lecturer of the Gender Studies Center, History Department, Samara State University, and the Co-Director and Lawyer of the Non-Governmental Organization "Samara Gender Studies Center." She has contributed to the realization of national and international projects on violence against women, gender studies, gender stereotypes and gender discrimination.
Dmitry Badeev, IT Specialist <dbadeev@abamos.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in December 1998. He graduated from the Mathematics Faculty of Moscow State University, is a Microsoft Certified Professional and a member of Russia's Writer's Union.
Olga Baum, Office Manager <obaum@abamos.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in 2004. Originally from Estonia, she graduated in 1985 from St. Petersburg State University with a degree in vertebrate zoology. After several years working in a drug testing center, Olga began working for Care International in 1992 and in 1993 became the office manager for Eurasia Foundation, where she later became the senior administrator in the Russia office. In 2003 she received a degree in human resources management from the Academy of National Economy.
Oxana Chornaya, Accountant <ochornaya@abamos.ru>, joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in May 2008. She graduated from Moscow Banking Institute, Finance & Credit faculty. Prior to ABA she worked for Charities Aid Foundation in Moscow as a leading accountant for 6 years.
Arina Khitrina, Staff Attorney in Vladivostok <arina_khitrina@abavlad.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in May, 2006. Previously, she held the position of legal adviser in a group of trade companies. Prior to that, she worked as a lawyer in a legal consulting firm, and as a teacher of Constitutional law in the Far Eastern State Technical University. She graduated from the Far Eastern State Technical University (Vladivostok) in 2003. She obtained an honors degree and qualification as a lawyer.
Elena Lipitova, Program Assistant to the Gender and Criminal Law Reform Programs <elipatova@abamos.ru> graduated from the Saratov State University. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, she worked as a grants analyst at the Eurasia Foundation. She also received two certificates of the Open British University: Effective Management Certificate and Finance Manager Certificate. Now she assists with preparation and coordination of all publications, meetings, lecture series, seminars, out-of-town workshops, conferences and all other activities in the gender program and the CLRP.
Mikhail Melnik, Secretary <mmelnik@abamos.ru> has worked at the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since May 2004. He graduated from the Law Department of Moscow City Pedagogical University and was chosen for a competitive internship at the Moscow Senior Police Department. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Mikhail worked as an attorney's assistant at the Moscow Oblast Collegium of Advocates.
Ilya Padchin, Russian American Rule of Law Consortium Program Coordinator <ipadchin@abamos.ru> holds a law degree from Petrozavodsk State University, Russia, and an LL.M. in International Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham, England. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in September 2005, Ilya had worked as a lawyer in a law firm, as an assistant to a judge of a city court, and had served as a liaison and translator for various American-Russian seminars. He is a member of Union of Jurists of the Republic of Karelia.
Ivan Pechorin, Staff Attorney <ivan.pechorin@abavlad.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Vladivostok office in February 2008. Before joining the organization he worked in marketing with Procter&Gamble Eastern Europe in Moscow. Previously, he worked as a legal affairs officer for the Russian Far East regional newspaper, publishing house, and fishing company. He also worked as an alumni fellow and legal consultant at American Councils for International Education, Inc. Vladivostok office. Ivan earned a Russian law degree from Far Eastern National University (Vladivostok) in 2004 and an Associate in Arts degree (sociology and pre-law) from Marshalltown Community College, IA USA, in 2002. In June 2006 he completed his studies in human rights law at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.
Dianne Post, Vladivostok Office Head <postd@staff.abanet.org> is a 1979 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law school. She has worked on issues of domestic violence and human rights throughout her career, in her own office, at legal aid, and at the state domestic violence coalition. In 1998 she began her work for ABA CEELI as the gender liaison in Russia and then worked in Cambodia and Hungary for other organizations before returning to Russia in 2007.
Vera Romanova, Advocacy Program Coordinator <vromanova@abamos.ru> graduated from Moscow State University. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, she worked as senior researcher at the Institute of U.S. and Canadian Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. She handles all logistics for the Advocacy Program's activities and oversees publication of the Dialogue electronic newsletter that reports on NGO developments.
Maria Schastyeva, Accountant <mschastyeva@abamos.ru> completed a degree at the British College of Banking and Finance and Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in December 2002, Maria worked for Charities Aid Foundation in Moscow as financial manager and accountant.
Evgeniya Tyson, Administrative Assistant, Vladivostok, <evgeniya.tyson@abavlad.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2008. She received her Journalism, PR degree from the Far Eastern National University, Vladivostok in 2001 and M.A. in International Studies from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA in 2006. Previously she worked as a Recruiting Assistant and later as an Educational Adviser at American Councils for International Education. She delivered lectures related to educational advising and US Education opportunities to the residents of the Russian Far East and Siberia, conducted individual consultations and ran group information seminars, and oversaw the work of the Educational Advising Center in Vladivostok.Maria Voskobitova, Directing Attorney for the Criminal Law Reform Program <mvoskobitova@abamos.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in July 2006. From December 1998 until June 2006, she worked for the Russian NGO, the Centre for Assistance to International Protection, where she advocated for applicants before the European Court of Human Rights. Three of her cases received ruling in favor of her clients, four were ruled admissible, and several other applications were communicated. Through the last seven years, she arranged a number of two-three days sessions and three-week courses on European Human Rights Defense and International Human Rights Defense. Maria has contributed to the writing and editing of several books and publications devoted to European and International Human Rights Defense and also devoted to legal skills. In 2000 she graduated from Moscow State Law Academy, with a prior degree in Human Rights Law and Practice from Birmingham University. Maria has interned with INTERIGHTS, the international human rights NGO headquartered in London.
Serbia
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova and Bosnia.
Neil Nolen, County Director, Serbia <neilnolen@abaceeliyu.org>, has worked in human rights, refugee protection and international law since his graduation from St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia in 1986. A former Jesuit volunteer in Honduras, he completed his Master’s Degree in Latin American Anthropology at UCLA while working with El Rescate ( Pico-Union, Los Angeles) and founded SISCAP (Students in Solidarity with Central American People) in support of humanitarian aid campaigns. As a Barrack Public Interest Law Fellow from Temple Law, he then litigated for the next five years for remedies including political asylum, the Violence Against Women Act and the Convention Against Torture with AYUDA of Washington, D.C. During this period he appeared in national media (The Progressive, National Public Radio), served as Regional VP of the National Lawyers Guild, and hosted the call-in Spanish radio program “Conozca Tus Derechos” to counsel the DC Hispanic community. Following human rights delegations to Chiapas and Port-o-Prince and two OSCE electoral missions in Bosnia, Neil appeared as the first international criminal defense attorney in Kosovo after the 1999 conflict. From 2000-2008 he served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (DPKO) as Regional Counsel and later Head of the Field Operations Unit (Minority Rights).
Blazo Nedic, Deputy Country Director and Legal Counsel for Serbia <bnedic@abaceeliyu.org> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Belgrade office in January 2000. In addition to personnel and budgetary management duties he is responsible for programmatic development and implementation of projects in the area of judicial reform, legislative drafting, legal profession reform and alternative dispute resolution. Blazo graduated from the Belgrade Law Faculty in 1991 and obtained his post-graduate degree in international and comparative business law at London Guildhall University (London, UK) in 1995. Blazo has worked as a lawyer in private practice in England and in Serbia. He is an official court interpreter for English language licensed by the Belgrade District Court. Blazo is a member of the Serbian Bar Association and an associate member of the American Bar Association. He is a trained mediator licensed by the ADR Group, Bristol UK.
Jelena Olofsson, Staff Attorney, <jelenab@abaceeliyu.org> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in March 2005. She works in the areas of Legal Profession Reform and Continuing Legal Education. Jelena graduated from Belgrade Law Faculty’s Department for International Law in 2004. Before joining ABA-ROLI, she worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council's Civil Rights Project in Serbia as a legal assistant and coordinator focusing on providing legal assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons.
Since joining the ROLI team, Jelena has focused on judicial and prosecutorial reform projects. In the fall of 2005, she organized a study tour for a group of Serbian prosecutors who traveled to Denver, Colorado to observe the American criminal justice system. Jelena also worked on the Judicial Reform Index project for ROLI-Serbia. Current projects include coordinating all of the advocacy grant programs with ROLI-Serbia’s NGO partners and working on the e-learning pilot project.
Jelena Jolic, Staff Attorney <jjolic@abaceeliyu.org> joined the Rule of Law Initiative in 2004 and has since then been working on development of continuing legal education programs for prosecutors, legal reform efforts and anticorruption programs. Jelena finished the Law Faculty of the University of Belgrade and obtained her masters degree from London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Jelena worked at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Serbia and Montenegro. She is one of the authors of the Complaint Procedure before the UN Treaty Bodies manual, and the author of the handbook on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
Snezana Ivanovic-Hriesik, Staff Attorney <snezanaih@abaceeliyu.org> graduated from the Belgrade Law Faculty in 1997 and completed bar exam in January 2001. She worked as senior legal advisor in Federal Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare on harmonizing domestic legislation with that of the European Union and the United States, as well as multilateral and bilateral government agreements. Since January 2002, she has worked on several E.U.-funded projects managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction as a local law and regulations expert. She drafted the Law on Medicines and Medical Devices, the Law on Transfusion, and several legal acts regarding the reform of public health and tobacco control. She has worked for the ABA Rule of Law Initiative since April 2004.
Damir Milutinovic, Staff Attorney <damirm@abaceeliyu.org> graduated from the University of Belgrade Law School in 2002. He worked for the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights where he was the project coordinator charged with poverty eradication and economic and social rights issues as well as being responsible for cooperation with the Catholic Relief Services and 25 local NGOs in drafting the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. From September 2003 to January 2004 he was an Associate of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights. He worked for the Catholic Relief Services as the local government liaison officer and as the project coordinator for the UNDP funded cluster within the Judicial Training Center, where he was charged with evaluating of courses designed for judges and prosecutors.
Jelena Arsic, Staff Attorney, <jarsic@abaceeliyu.org> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in August 2006. She works in the areas of continuing legal education, bar development and young legal professionals development. She holds a J.D. from the University of Belgrade School of Law and an LL.M. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. In the 2004/2005 as a U.S. State Department Scholarship recipient she interned with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She also worked as a legal trainee in the Karanovic-Nikolic Law Office in Belgrade. Jelena teaches part-time at the Union University School of Law in Belgrade.
Nikola Vojnovic, Staff Attorney <nvojnovic@abaceeliyu.org> graduated from the Belgrade Law Faculty in 2001 and immediately joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative's Belgrade office. He volunteered at the Belgrade Center for Human Rights while studying in law school. Since then, he has worked with judges, prosecutors, magistrates and young lawyers on various rule of law projects. He passed the bar examination in May 2004.
Irena Lucic, Administrative Assistant <irenal@abaceeliyu.org> is finishing her studies at the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation in Belgrade, where she has concentrated on working with special needs children and adults. She joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in July 2005.
Gordana Walker, Office Manager <gordanaw@abaceeliyu.org> has been with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative's Belgrade office since it opened in 1997. She lived for many years in England before returning to Serbia.
Tajikistan
In Washington, D.C.Irina Parshikova <iparshikova@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manger for Central Asia.
Hakim A. Lakhdar <hlakhdar@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan.
In Tajikistan
Marit Rasmussen Country Director, Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan <mrasmussen@staff.abanet.org> was a CEELI Rule of Law Liaison in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2003. Later, as Research and Development Director for the Mental Disability Advocacy Center in Hungary, Ms. Rasmussen managed a multi-country research and advocacy project on guardianship and disability law. She has also served as Deputy Director of the International Senior Lawyers Project in New York. Ms. Rasmussen practiced in Chicago where she specialized in children’s rights, domestic violence, and disability law serving as both Special Counsel to the Guardian at the Department of Children and Family Services and as an Assistant Public Guardian. A published author, Ms. Rasmussen has contributed to reports and articles on international human rights protection of persons with disabilities.
Zarina Abdulalieva, Women's Rights Project Assistant and Field Finance Manager, <zarina@ceeli.tj> joined the ABA in May 2003. In her position, Zarina is responsible for managing all country grant expenses and assisted in the development of Women's Legal Advocacy Centers in Dushanbe and Khujand, a project which ran from 2003-2006. A 2001 graduate of the International Relations Faculty of the Slavonic Russian-Tajik University, Zarina is currently a part time student at the faculty of law of the Tyumen State University. Prior to joining the ABA, Zarina worked for a project of the World Bank and for other international organizations.
Djamshed Khudonazarov, Dushanbe Office Manager <jamshed@ceeli.tj> was a driver with the ABA when the office first opened in 1997. He was promoted in 2003 to office manager.
Lola Khusanova, Khujand Office Manager/Translator, <lola@ceeli-khujand.com> joined the ABA's Khujand office in February 2005. She has previously worked for the Mennonite Economic Development Associates and for several commercial communications and trading companies.
John Musarra, Legal Education Specialist, <jmusarra@ceeli.tj> is Counsel to the firm of Bourke & Associates in Hackettstown, New Jersey, concentrating in criminal defense after a 25-year career as a prosecutor. He received his J.D. in 1978 from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. Since retiring from government service, he has volunteered with numerous public service organizations including People for the American Way and the American Red Cross.
John oversees the ABA's program of instructing public servants and officials in laws and procedures in local government in two pilot programs in the city of Khujand and the capital city of Dushanbe. He is also responsible for implementing an experimental program of civics instruction at the Tajik Islamic University and provides assistance in the civic education of primary and secondary school students as part of the ABA’s "My Civic Standing" program.
Larisa Petrosyan, Program Coordinator, <larisa@ceeli.tj> joined the ABA in September 1997. Larisa graduated from the Tajik State Pedagogical University Foreign Language Faculty in 1996 and is currently enrolled at the Law Faculty of Tajik State University. She is responsible for supporting program development, implementation, coordination and record-keeping. She recently assumed responsibility for the legal education programs in Dushanbe.
Larisa has provided targeted programmatic and logistical support to USAID funded legal education projects which have most recently focused on local governance and expanded civic education programs both in religious and non-religious settings. In previous years Larisa added her talent and skills to a legal externship program which provided valuable consultations and services to Tajik citizens and to the “My Civic Standing” program, which continues to offer courses on basic legal principles to primary and secondary school students.
Dilrabo Samadova, Program Assistant, <dilrabo@ceeli-khujand.com> is a graduate of the law faculty of Khujand State University. Dilrabo joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Khujand office, in February 2006 to work on the Clinic Externship Program. Currently, she works on the legal skills training for civil servants and a legal education program for secondary school students, "My Civic Standing." Dilrabo is also a chairperson of the Young Lawyers Association " Amparo" in the Sughd region.
Firuza Urusova, Project Assistant for the Criminal Law Reform Program, joined the ABA in May of 2006 as assistant to the Country Director and outreach coordinator. A graduate of the Russian-Tajik Slavonic University in Dushanbe in international relations, Firuza came to the ABA from a Russian commercial firm. She also previously worked in the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
Zulfikor Zamonov, Criminal Law Staff Attorney, <zzamonov@ceeli.tj> joined the ABA in June 2003 as a Street Law Program Coordinator and in November 2003 he was promoted to Staff Attorney. Zulfikor received his degree from the Law Faculty of the Tajik State National University in 2002. He has worked with law students to promote and implement legal education projects in Dushanbe, such as Mock Trial Competitions, Moot Court Competitions, Summer Camps, Street Law and a Human Rights Law Course. From January 2006, Zulfikor has served as the Criminal Law Staff Attorney.
Farangis Zikriyaeva, Staff Attorney, <farangis@ceeli-khujand.com> graduated from the Law Faculty of Khujand State University in 2002. Before joining the ABA in October 2002, she worked as a law teacher at Khujand State University. She began working at the ABA in May 2003 as a Program Assistant and in December 2003 she was promoted to Staff Attorney. Farangis has worked on legal education programs in Khujand and supervises the clinic externship program. Currently, she works on the legal skills training program for civil servants and the educational program for secondary school students, "My Civic Standing."
Dmitri Zhuravlev, Staff Attorney, <dmitrii@ceeli.tj> joined the ABA in November of 2006 after serving as counsel to several public and private agencies in Tajikistan, including serving in the Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and as a member of the Secretariat of the Governmental Commission on Human Rights and as Executive Secretary of the Commission on Implementation of International Humanitarian Law. He received his law degree from the Russian-Tajik Slavonic University in 2001 and has also studied law extensively in Russia.
Dmitri is responsible for the design and implementation of several of ABA's legal training courses, including training of local government officials in applicable law and procedure, and civics training for students. Dmitri also serves as legal counsel to the office in its dealings with government and other third parties in Tajikistan.
Turkmenistan
In Washington, D.C.
Irina Parshikova <iparshikova@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central Asia.
Clayton Adams <cadams@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Associate for Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan.
Ivan Abrams, Country Director for Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan <tuscon3985@gmail.com>.
Jacquelyn Foster, Senior Legal Advisor, <foster.jacquelyn@googlemail.com> holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati and a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois. In addition, Jacquelyn has earned credit towards her Master of Science in International Business at Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois. She began her career as a prosecutor for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office in Wheaton, Illinois. Subsequently, Jacquelyn worked for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago, Illinois. For the period of 1997–2006, Jacquelyn was a solo-practitioner specializing in criminal defense and family law (including juvenile law). Jacquelyn specialized in domestic violence and child abuse cases. In addition, Jacquelyn has been an adjunct professor for the Elgin Community College where she taught juvenile law. Most recently, she taught international legal and business ethics for Colorado Technical University. Jacquelyn first joined the ABA Rule of law Initiative as a legal specialist in Turkmenistan in September 2006.
Seyran Soltanov, Senior Staff Attorney, <seyran.soltanov@googlemail.com> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in December 2006 as a Senior Staff Attorney under the Turkmenistan Community Empowerment Program. Seyran holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the International Independent University for Ecology and Politology which is located in Moscow. In addition, Seyran obtained his Master of Law Degree from the Al Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. As a legal consultant for Turkmenneftegas Corporation, Seyran worked at the main petroleum storage depot located in Turkmenabat in 2002. For the period of 2005–2006 Seyran worked for a bank as a lawyer. Seyran is fluent in Russian, Turkmen, Uzbek, Kazakh and English.
Ogulsheker Veyisova, Field Finance Manager and Database Manager, <Sheker.veyis@yahoo.com> rejoined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in 2006. She possesses over 10 years work experience in government agencies, non-profit organizations as well as international organizations. Sheker obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Geography and Biology from Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute in 1991. As an Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellow, Sheker attended Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia for a one-year program in Information Science. Sheker's prior experience includes working for the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as an Administrator for the Legal Resource Center located at the Turkmen State University and as the Administrative Assistant in the Financial Department for the US Peace Corps, Turkmenistan. She speaks fluent Turkmen, Russian and English, and possesses excellent computer skills.
Seyitmuhammet Zaripov, Technical Assistant,<muhammet.aba@mail.ru> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in May 2006. He graduated from the Turkmen State University Law and International Relations Department in 2000 with specializations in law and economics. Before joining the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Seyitmuhammet worked as the Operations Officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan. He is fluent in Turkmen and Russian, and speaks colloquial English and Turkish.
Ukraine
In Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Denton-Jafari <jdenton@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Kristin Kowalew <kkowalew@staff.abanet.org> is the Program Officer for Ukraine and Russia.
In Ukraine
Shelley R. Wieck, Country Director <swieck@abaceeli.kiev.ua> joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in June, 2006 after working as Head of Mission/Program Manager for Avocats Sans Frontières-Belgium in Dili, Timor-Leste, where she developed the East Timor Bar Association, implemented private lawyer training programs and managed a grassroots legal education program to train village chiefs and community leaders in developing a network of paralegals in rural districts. Shelley was a practicing attorney for 16 years specializing in the area of family law and civil trial litigation before joining the Peace Corps, which took her to Timor-Leste. She received her Bachelors and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of South Dakota.
Petro Pavlychenko, Deputy Country Director <petro.pavlychenko@abaceeli.kiev.ua>, joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in December 2007 after working as the Senior Program Manager with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine, where he managed project implementation in the areas of Governance, Civil Service Reform, Anti-corruption, Judicial System Reform, Local Development and Regional Cooperation. Previously, Petro directed the Policy Resource Center and worked as an Advisor on Sustainable Development, Energy and Environment at the UNDP. His previous assignments were conducted mostly in the area of promotion of Land Privatization and Reform projects, when he served as the Team Leader in the International Finance Corpora