Corinne Smith, Director Europe and Eurasia Division, rejoined ABA ROLI in December 2010, after previously serving as country director in Moldova and legal specialist in Kyrgyzstan. She was most recently deputy general counsel for global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supporting the work of that team and other foundation legal matters. She previously spent more than 13 years as a transactional lawyer, in-house at the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust and at several law firms, with a focus on affordable housing. Ms. Smith was also a foreign service officer, serving in South Africa and Namibia, and she worked in contract and grant management for several non-profit organizations including a legal services organization and in city government. Ms. Smith received her undergraduate degree in government and French from Smith College and her law degree from Boston College. She speaks French and basic Russian. You can contact Corinne Smith at corinne.smith@americanbar.org.

Andrea (Andi) Barton, Program Officer, joined our Central Asia team in August 2011. She previously worked in the Europe and Eurasia Division as an intern. She holds an M.A. in European and Eurasian studies from The George Washington University, where she concentrated on post-conflict state-building and helped found a regionally-focused student organization. She previously interned at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the German Marshall Fund and at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Ms. Barton also holds a B.A. in international studies from the University of California, San Diego. You can contact her at andrea.barton@americanbar.org.

Ellen Davis, Program Officer , joined ABA ROLI’s Europe and Eurasia Division in December 2009, covering Eastern Europe. She previously interned for the division, working on programs in Central Asia. As an undergraduate at American University she helped found the university chapter of the Roosevelt Institution, a student think tank, where she served as the national policy coordinator for defense and diplomacy policy. Ms. Davis holds a B.A in international relations and political science, with a concentration in Russia and the former Soviet Union. She spent a summer semester at Moscow State University. You can contact Ellen Davis at ellen.davis@americanbar.org.

Hana Hausnerova, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI in October 2009 and supports programming in Russia.  Prior to joining ABA ROLI full time, she served as an intern supporting programs in Central Asia. Ms. Hausnerova holds an LL.M. in international and comparative law from George Washington University Law School, a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and a B.S. in psychology and culture and politics from Georgetown University. Ms. Hausnerova is a native of the Czech Republic and speaks fluent Czech and Slovak. You can contact Hana Hausnerova at hana.hausnerova@americanbar.org.

Kristi Kontak, Program Officer, joined ABA ROLI’s Europe and Eurasia Division in June 2010 and supports programming in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. She previously worked as an intern for the division. Ms. Kontak holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where she was a student attorney in the school’s immigration clinic and president of the Human Rights Alliance. During her third year of law school, she attended American University Washington College of Law to focus her studies on international human rights. She also holds a dual B.A. in psychology and German from Agnes Scott College. You can contact Kristi Kontak at kristi.kontak@americanbar.org.

Ashley Martin, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI in November 2010. After earning her B.A. in international/Russian studies from the College of William and Mary, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Far Eastern Russia, and then worked for a U.S. Agency for International Development contractor, managing projects in Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Balkans. She earned her J.D. from Vermont Law School and is licensed to practice law in Virginia. She came to ABA ROLI from a clerkship with Judge Kathryn A. Oberly at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.You can contact Ashley Martin at ashley.martin@americanbar.org.

Irina Parshikova, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI in October 2005 and manages the Europe and Eurasia Division’s programs in the Caucasus and Moldova. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked with a United Nations Development Program governance project in Sierra Leone, was a lawyer with a human rights organization in Russia and was the director of a legal education program, also in Russia. She holds an M.P.A. degree from Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, a B.A. in political science from the University of Oregon and a degree in jurisprudence from Syktyvkar State University in Russia. You can contact Irina Parhikova at irina.parshikova@americanbar.org.

Cameron Platt, Program Officer, has been with ABA ROLI since June 2010. He focuses on the Caucuses and Moldova within the Europe and Eurasia Division of ABA ROLI. Mr. Platt graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in international relations. He was a co-director of the Carleton International Relations Council and spent his second year of college in China. During his time in Peace Corps from 2007–2009, Mr. Platt studied Russian and facilitated community and non-governmental organization development in Kyrgyzstan. He has focused on volunteerism promotion as well as international exchange development. You can reach Cameron Platt at cameron.platt@americanbar.org.

Kendall Smith, Administrative Assistant, joined ABA ROLI’s Europe and Eurasia Division in June 2010.  Kendall Smith graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2009 with a B.A. in history and international studies and a certificate in European studies. From August 2009–May 2010, she completed a conservation public policy internship program sponsored by Unilever and the Student Conservation Association. As part of the program, she spent three months at Valley Forge National Historical Park, followed by three months’ service at the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Steve Rothman. For the final portion of her internship, she worked at the National Park Service’s Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs at the Department of the Interior. You can contact Ms. Smith at kendall.smith@americanbar.org.

Jonathan Weber, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI in April 2010 and supports programming in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Before joining ABA ROLI, Mr. Weber served as a program assistant on human rights programs in the former Soviet Union at Freedom House. He holds a BA in economics and a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Virginia, and completed a year of postgraduate studies at St. Petersburg State University. He speaks fluent Russian. Jonathan Weber can be contacted at jonathan.weber@americanbar.org.

Danielle Witt, Program Associate, joined ABA ROLI in November 2011 and supports programming in Russia. Previously, she worked for the Open World Program, a democracy-promotion program and independent agency of the Library of Congress focusing on strengthening civil society in former Soviet states. Ms. Witt graduated with a dual BA in International Affairs and Modern Foreign Languages, with a concentration in Russian Studies, from James Madison University, and has studied at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. She speaks Spanish and Russian. You can contact Danielle Witt at danielle.witt@americanbar.org.

Ronald S. Mangum, Country Director in Armenia, joined ABA ROLI in September 2011. From 1982 to 2000, he was the managing partner of a nationally recognized U.S. law firm, where he represented clients in domestic and international corporate, litigation, tax and tax exempt status, financing and administrative law matters. From 2000 to 2011, he was on active duty with the United States Army (Brigadier General) and a defense contractor consulting on defense reform issues in the Caucasus region. He is a graduate of Northwestern University (1965) and the Northwestern University School of Law (1968), and holds a master’s degree in diplomacy from Norwich University (2004). He is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court (1968), Supreme Court of the United States (1972), United States Court of Appeals (1970), United States District Court (1968), Tax Court of the United States (1969), Federal Trial Bar (1982) and Wisconsin Supreme Court (1985). Mr. Mangum was founder and chairman of the Health Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association and has held other leadership positions in state and local bar associations. He is a recognized health systems expert who has represented clients on complex regulatory compliance issues before several government agencies, and he has developed and managed numerous multi-state business mergers and major financing initiatives. He has several years of overseas experience, including in South Korea, Europe and the Caucasus region. You can contact Ron Mangum at Ronald.Mangum@abaceeli.am.

Vardan Arzumanyan, IT Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in 2007. He has worked previously as an information technology specialist with Armentel from 1988–2002, with Armenian Card from 2001–2003, and with Internews from 2003–2007. Mr. Arzumanyan graduated from State Engineering Institute in 1996. You can contact Mr. Arzumanyan at vartan@abaceeli.am.

Narine Gasparyan, Senior Staff Attorney for Judicial Reform , joined ABA ROLI in September 2001 to perform research and to advise on legislative and legal issues in Armenia. She also organizes legal seminars. Ms. Gasparyan previously worked as a lawyer for a World Bank project on behalf of the Armenian Ministry of Health and served as an assistant to the Armenian National Court. She also worked at the resource center of the Tapan Eco-Club. You can contact Ms. Gasparyan at narine@abaceeli.am.

Elizabeth Givens, Criminal Law Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in September 2011. Ms. Givens is a litigator who has practiced in both criminal and civil courts in California. She tried criminal cases for five years as a public defender before switching to civil litigation. Ms. Givens was a member of a Los Angeles firm that specialized in business torts, real estate and products liability cases. She also has experience working in the area of legal reform. Before becoming a litigator, she staffed a committee commissioned by the California Chief Justice to rewrite criminal jury instructions for use across the state. Ms. Givens graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a dual degree in Economics (B.S., Wharton) and History (B.A., College of Arts and Sciences). She was awarded her J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Givens is a member of the California bar and is admitted to practice in the Central and Eastern districts in California. She makes her permanent home in Los Angeles. You may contact Elizabeth Givens at beth.givens@abaceeli.am.

Hasmik Hakobyan, Senior Staff Attorney for Criminal Law Reform, has worked in a variety of capacities in Armenia since joining ABA ROLI in 2001. Ms. Hakobyan has been heavily involved in 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 ABA ROLI, Ms. Hakobyan was a member of the Collegium of Advocates of Armenia providing defense counsel in criminal and civil cases. She served for two years as a civic education program fellow, providing professional skills to students using interactive teaching methods.From 1998 to 2000, she worked with a USAID-funded land registration and titling program in Armenia. Ms. Hakobyan graduated from Yerevan State University Law Faculty and received her LL.M. from American University of Armenia. You can contact Ms. Hakobyan at hasmik@abaceeli.am.

Liana Haroyan, Senior Staff Attorney for Legal Education Reform, first joined the ABA ROLI in September 2002 and worked for two years as a criminal law reform program assistant. In 2004, she was selected as a public interest law fellow at Columbia University Law School. While there, Ms. Haroyan interned with Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists. In October 2005, she rejoined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative as a staff attorney. Previously, she worked as a project coordinator at the Legal Aid Center, a part of the Bar Association of Armenia. You can contact Ms. Haroyan at liana@abaceeli.am.

Sergo Harutyunyan, Driver/Technical Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in February 2004, initially as a security guard. In June 2004, he began serving as the office driver. Since then, he has performed both duties specific to his position and supported the administrative staff with logistics, office maintenance, procurement and small payments to vendors. Mr.Harutyunyan graduated from Yerevan Polytechnic University’s Machinery Technologies Department.

Alenush Kirakosyan, Senior Translator/Interpreter, joined ABA ROLI in 2004 and instructs a “Communication in English” course at Yerevan State Linguistic University. Ms. Kirakosyan has worked as a translator and as an English language teacher for various local organizations. She is also a member of the Voluntary Service Organization and Stepanavan Youth Center working to promote voluntary service and youth programs in Armenia and abroad. Ms. Kirakosyan graduated with a master’s degree in linguistics from Yerevan State Linguistic University. You can contact Ms. Kirakosyan at akirakosyan@abaceeli.am.

Sofya Mkhitaryan, Senior Field Finance Manager, joined ABA ROLI as an office manager in April 2000. After graduating from the State Pedagogical University of Foreign Languages in 1985, Ms.Mkhitaryan served as the deputy director of a secondary school. She has worked with the following international organizations since 1989: Gyulbenkyan Foundation, Switzerland, CEC-TACIS/BCEOM, France, and EBRD/Lahmeyer International, Germany; she has also served as a program specialist with USAID/Hagler Bailly. She earned a law degree from Galik University in August 2003. You can contact Ms. Mkhitaryan at sofia@abaceeli.am.

Gayane Mkrtchyan, Staff Attorney for Legal Profession Reform , joined ABA ROLI in 2006 and is an expert of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. A graduate of Yerevan State University Law Department, American University of Armenia, and the University of Connecticut Law School, Ms.Mkrtchyan has worked in the U.S. for a Connecticut state senator, a Connecticut state judge and a major corporation in New York City. You can contact Ms. Mkrtchyan at mgayane@abaceeli.am.

Satenik (Zara) Soghomonyan, Administrative Coordinator, joined ABA ROLI in 2004. Prior to joining the ABA, Ms. Soghomonyan worked at the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia as an administrative assistant in the supervision and audit department. Before that, she served in the customer service department of the Elita commercial bank, as a translator at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and in the marketing department at Nairit-2. Ms. Soghomonyan is fluent in Russian, Armenian and English and holds a degree in English history and language from the V. Bryusov Yerevan State Linguistic Institute. You can contact Ms. Soghomonyan at zara@abaceeli.am.

Robert Steere, Country Director, joined ABA ROLI in October 2011. Mr. Steere managed United Nations and United States Agency for International Development international governance and legal projects in Iraq and Kosovo, and has experience with extensive training and capacity building. He served as chief of administration within the Kosovo Department of Justice and has close to 20 years of experience in executive-level legal and policy positions in state government and private law practice in the United States.

Lala Adilova, Field Financial Manager, joined ABA ROLI in May 2011. She worked as office manager for the legal advocacy center from April 2006 to May 2011. She received her bachelor’s degree in planning engineering from the Azerbaijan branch of the San Marino Academy of International Sciences in 1997. Before joining ABA ROLI, she worked for 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 office & finance manager. You can contact Lala Adilova at lale.adilova@aba-az.org.

Valeriya Afandiyeva, Manager of Budget and Administration, joined ABA ROLI 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. You can contact Valeriya Afandiyeva at valeria.efendiyeva@aba-az.org.

Elkhan Ashurov, Administrative Assistant, joined ABA ROLI in December 2007. Mr Ashurov graduated from Azerbaijan State Economic University, majoring in legal regulation of economy. From January 2004 to January 2005, he worked as a student volunteer at Anglo–American Business Services and ATTAS PR Alliance. He speaks English, Azeri and Russian. Elkhan Ashurov can be reached at Elkhan.Ashurov@aba-az.org.

Agil Azimov, IT Manager, joined ABA ROLI in March 2005. He graduated from Baku State University in 1998. Agil has six years of IT experience with humanitarian organizations. Before joining ABA ROLI, Agil worked at the Open Society Institute as a website content manager and later at Project Harmony as a webmaster. You can contact Agil Azimov at agil.azimov@aba.az.org.

Michelle A. Brady, Legal Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in July 2010. For the past 6 years, she worked at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. During the last 3 years, she worked in the Major Trials Unit, representing clients charged with serious felony charges and conducting more than 20 jury trials. She earned her law degree cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law and has a B.A. in international politics from the George Washington University. She is a member of the Maryland and Pennsylvania bars. While in law school, she clerked for the Capital Habeas Unit of the federal defender in Philadelphia and the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C.; interned with Federal Magistrate Judge Susan K. Gauvey in Baltimore City; and was twice captain of the university’s Burton D. Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court team. Ms. Brady is currently studying Azeri and has a basic knowledge of Spanish.

Gunel Guliyeva, Anti-Human Trafficking Program and Media Law Program Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in November 2010.  She currently teaches human rights courses at Baku State University’s LL.M. program. Before joining ABA ROLI, Gunel was a lawyer at the Azerbaijan Migration Centre. She has an LL.M. in international human rights law from the University of Essex (United Kingdom) and an LL.B. from Baku State University. Gunel has been involved in domestic and international human rights litigation and advocacy since 2003 through the law clinic of Baku State University (2001–2002), Legal Education Society (2003–2005), National Center for State Courts’ Azerbaijan Legal Database Project (2005–2006), ABA CEELI Legal Advocacy Center (2006) and Women’s Bar Association’s anti-human trafficking project (2009). From 2007 to 2008 she worked on non-discrimination cases before the European Court of Human Rights, the Human Rights Committee and the European Committee of Social Rights through an internship with INTERIGHTS. She has authored human rights articles, including The Concept of Joint Criminal Enterprise and ICC Jurisdiction, published in the Eyes On The ICC journal. Gunel is fluent in Azeri, Russian and English and has a basic knowledge of French. You can contact Gunel Guliyeva at gunel.guliyeva@aba-az.org.

Gunel Jafarova, Legal Education Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in July 2005 after graduating with an M.A. from the Baku State University International Law Department. She received her B.A. in 2003 from Baku State University (BSU). Before joining ABA ROLI, she worked as an exchange and research programs assistant in the International Relations Department at BSU. She also teaches legal studies at Qafqaz University. You can contact Gunel Jafarova at gunel.jafarova@aba-az.com.

Lala Khalilli, Legal Education Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI 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 five years. She has participated in international trainings and seminars concerning the international mechanisms of protection of human rights. She is fluent in Azeri, English, Russian and Turkish. You can contact Lala Khalilli at lala.khalilli@aba-az.com.

Narmin Kerimbekova, Rule of Law Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in November 2006 as a staff attorney in the rule of law program. Narmin received her LL.B. degree from Baku State University in July 2005. She started her career as a legal assistant at Transparency Azerbaijan, where she provided 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 ABA ROLI’s traveling lawyers, continuing legal education and women’s bar association programs in Baku.  Narmin’s native language is Azeri and she is fluent in English, Russian, Turkish and is moderate in Spanish. You can contact Narmin Kerimbekova at narmin.kerimbekova@aba-az.org.

Vafa Rovshanova, Criminal Law Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in August 2008. She is involved in conducting trainings for practicing lawyers on issues including European Convention on Human Rights, advocacy skills, trafficking in persons and fighting corruption. Ms. Rovshanova received her LL.B. in 2004 and her LL.M. in 2006 (with honors) from Baku State University. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked for the Agayev & Zoulfugarzadeh firm as a lawyer. Ms. Rovshanova is fluent in Azerbaijan, Russian, English and Turkish. You can contact Vafa Rovshanova at vafa.rovshanova@aba-az.org.

Ronald A. Wolfson, Country Director, joined ABA ROLI in March 2009. He retired as the Nevada County assistant district attorney in 2007, after practicing law for more than 30 years in California. During his more than 24 years’ service with the District Attorney’s Office, he tried cases dealing with virtually all types of crime. Prior to joining the District Attorney’s Office, he was the assistant public defender for Nevada County for almost five years. He has also served as the public defender for Sierra County. From 1975–1978, he maintained a private practice that handled criminal, family, construction and real estate cases. From 1967–1969, he served in Germany as a journalist in the U.S. Army. Mr. Wolfson graduated from Los Angeles City College (A.A.), University of California at Los Angeles (B.A.) and Southwestern University School of Law (J.D.). He has resided in Tbilisi, Georgia, since March 2009. You can contact Ron Wolfson at ronald@abarol.ge.

George Amashukeli, Staff Attorney/Translator, joined ABA ROLI in October 2010. Mr. Amashukeli holds an undergraduate and a postgraduate degrees in international law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and an LL.M. degree in business and commercial law from The Liverpool John Moors University in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, George Amashukeli served as an intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2000–2002) and worked as a legal specialist at the Official Editing Services of the President of Georgia (2004–2005). Mr. Amashukeli worked as a barrister (specializing in criminal law) at Didube Union of Lawyers (2006–2007) and at Svanidze and Partners (2004–2007). George Amashukeli speaks Georgian, English and Russian. You can contact George Amashukeli at Gio@abarol.ge.

Tea Chelidze, Field Financial Manager/ Office Manager, joined ABA ROLI in July 2004 as the office manager after providing administrative and translation support to several companies in Georgia. In 2009, she became the field financial manager. Mrs. Chelidze graduated from Ilia Chavchavdze State University of Western Languages and Culture and holds a degree in business administration from the Caucasus Academic Centre. Mrs. Chelidze speaks Georgian, English, Russian and Spanish. You can contact Tea Chelidze at tea@abarol.ge.

Mirian Chikhladze, Driver, joined ABA ROLI in September 1999. Mr. Chikhladze graduated from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University with a degree in economics. He speaks Georgian, Russian and English. You can contact Mirian Chikhladze at mirian@abarol.ge.

David Ebralidze, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in November 2010. Mr. Ebralidze holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and an MBA from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Mr. Ebralidze served as an intern and then as a specialist in the legal department of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia. Mr. Ebralidze speaks Georgian, English and Russian. You can contact David Ebralidze at dato@abarol.ge.

Lali Ghvaladze, Contract Program Assistant, joined ABA ROLI in June 2011. Mrs. Ghvaladze holds a master’s degree in economics from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She speaks Georgian, English and Russian. You can contact Lali Ghvaladze at lali@abarol.ge.

Ana Loria, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in June 2010. She is a member of the Georgian Bar Association, with a license in general specialization (civil, administrative and criminal law). Ms. Loria has worked as the executive director at the Centre for Protection of Constitutional Rights. Ms. Loria holds an LL.B. degree from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. From 2005–2006, she studied business communications at Harvard University Extension School in the United States. She speaks Georgian, English and Russian. Her permanent home is in Tbilisi, Georgia. You can contact Ana Loria at anna@abarol.ge.

Mamuka Mamatsashvili, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in 2002. Before joining the ABA ROLI, Mr. Mamatsashvili worked in the Inspector General’s Office of the Ministry of Tax Incomes, where he worked on investigating disciplinary matters and other misconducts of ministry employees at the Tax Department, Custom Department and Financial Police. Prior to that, Mr. Mamatsashvili worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA). While at the MOIA, he served as a senior inspector in the National Anti-Drug Trafficking and Anti-Narcotics Bureau, and later he was responsible for the movement and transportation of former president Eduard Shevardnadze. Mr. Mamatsashvili has an LL.M. degree from Tbilisi State University. You can contact Mamuka Mamatsashvili at mamuka@abarol.ge.

Medea Matiashvili, Senior Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in September 2005 as a street law intern and works on criminal law programs. Ms. Matiashvili has worked as a junior staff attorney and a staff attorney before she was promoted to senior staff attorney. She developed and implemented the street law program in Georgia, coordinated Georgian Law Students Association’s activities and implemented other legal education projects. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Matiashvili was the deputy chair of the Georgian Law Students’ Association. Ms. Matiashvili holds an M.A. degree in law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She also studied at Budapest Business School’s department of international management and business in Hungary from 2003–2004 as a Socrates/Erasmus exchange program student. Ms. Matiashvili is currently a Ph.D. candidate and an adjunct faculty at Tbilisi State University’s Department of Law. She is also a member of a legal history research institute at Tbilisi State University.  Ms. Matiashvili was admitted to the Criminal Law Bar in 2007. You can contact Medea Matiashvili at medo@abarol.ge.

David Satseradze, Contract IT Specialist, joined ABA ROLI on a part-time basis in 2011. Mr. Satseradze worked for Georgian Railway as a corporative computer networks system administrator. Mr. Satseradze graduated from Georgian Technical University’s Faculty of Informational Technology. He speaks Georgian, Russian and English. You can contact David Satseradze at sdato@abarol.ge.

Igor Sereda, IT Specialist, joined ABA ROLI on a part-time basis in 2002 and since 2004 has been ABA ROLI’s full-time IT Specialist in Georgia. Prior to being full time at ABA ROLI, Mr. Sereda worked for Booz-Allen on a USAID-funded project from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Sereda graduated from the Ocean Geographic Institute in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1992 and graduated from the Institute of Management in Minsk, Belarus, in 1995. You can contact Igor Sereda at Igor@abarol.ge.

Maka Tsinadze, Program Assistant, joined ABA ROLI in July 2003 as an intern and in July 2005 became a permanent staff member. Ms. Tsinadze holds a B.A. in English from Georgian Technical University and MBA from Georgian-American University. Ms. Tsinadze speaks Georgian, English and Russian. You can contact Maka Tsinadze at maka@abarol.ge.

Anastassiya Sokolova, Program Assistant, joined ABA ROLI’s Almaty office in May 2010. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Sokolova worked as a translator at a local pharmaceutical company. She is a graduate of Almaty Humanity and Economic Institute, where she earned a B.A. in both English and French. Ms. Sokolova is currently a law student at Almaty Branch of Saint-Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences and looks forward to obtaining her law degree in the winter of 2012. She speaks Russian, English, Kazakh and French. You can contact Anastassiya Sokolova at <aba.sokolova@gmail.com>.

Rustem Zhangunussov, Field Finance Manager, has a master’s degree in economics, with honors, from the University of International Business in Almaty. He previously received his bachelor’s degree in international law—foreign economic activity—from Kazakh Humanitarian Law University. Mr. Zhangunussov also serves as an office manager and as a program assistant. He speaks Russian and English.

Fadil Sadiku, Office Finance Manager, joined ABA ROLI in October 2000. He studied electronics at the University of Pristina but left in 1991 to complete his education at the Technical University in Basel, Switzerland. He returned to Kosovo in 1999 and has previously worked for the United Nations Civilian Police Logistics and Communication Section. In June 2009, Fadil received a bachelor’s degree in finance and administration from the University for Business and Technology (UBT) in Pristina. You can contact Fadil Sadiku at <fsadiku@ceelikosovo.org>.

Korab Sejdiu, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI on a part-time basis in October 2011. In addition to his work with ABA ROLI, Mr. Sejdiu is currently a managing partner at the law firm of Sejdiu and Qerkini, G.P. Prior to that, he served as a legal advisor to the president of the Republic of Kosovo. Mr. Sejdiu holds a J.D. from Widener University School of Law and a B.S. in international business from the College of New Jersey.

Azamat Kerimbaev, Country Director, joined ABA ROLI in May 1999 after working at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington, D.C., and in the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Kerimbaev is responsible for the day-to-day management, personnel and financial, of ABA ROLI’s two offices in Kyrgyzstan. During his ten-year tenure with ABA ROLI, he has been involved in a number of programs, including: legal resource center development; legislative drafting assistance and the provision of technical assistance on constitutional reform; drafting and implementing the 2003 judicial reform, the 2004 legal profession reform and the 2007 prosecutorial reform indexes for Kyrgyzstan; the production of educational manuals for universities on legal ethics and advocacy skills; and a variety of criminal justice reform and anti-corruption programs. A native of Bishkek, Mr. Kerimbaev holds a law degree from Kyrgyz State University and a degree in international relations from Kyrgyz Diplomatic Academy. You can contact Azamat Kerimbaev at <azamatk@elcat.kg>.

Ulan Aralbaev, Program Manager, joined ABA ROLI in January 2007, where he supports ABA ROLI’s Bishkek office. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Mr. Aralbaev worked as a project officer for the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and as an English language instructor for the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University and Kyrgyz State Architectural University. You can contact Ulan Aralbaev at <aralbaevu@elcat.kg>.

Olga Churakova, Program Assistant, rejoined ABA ROLI in June 2010. Ms. Churakova initially worked with ABA ROLI from 2000 to 2006 as an intern, program associate and program assistant in the Bishkek office. Before rejoining ABA ROLI, she worked as a private events and project management consultant, running an events agency. Ms. Churakova graduated from the Law Department of Kyrgyz National University in 2005, and is a freelance trainer of marketing, public relations and customer relationship management at the Training and Consulting Center in Bishkek. You can reach Olga Churakova at <ochurakova@elcat.kg>.

Asel Djamankulova, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in June 2010. After graduating from the Law Department of American University in Central Asia in 2007, she practiced in the areas of international human rights and juvenile justice. Mrs. Dzhamankulova worked at Public Foundation’s advocates’ training and legal centers. She has been a licensed advocate in Kyrgyzstan since October 2009. You can reach Asel Dzhamankulova at <adjamankulova@elcat.kg>.

Albina Kozhontaeva, Field Finance Manager and Coordinator, coordinates ABA ROLI’s street law program both in secular schools and madrassas and is in charge of field finance management. Ms. Kozhontaeva joined ABA ROLI’s Osh office in January 2001 after working in communications. She has also served as an interpreter for the Foundation for Tolerance International and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe. You can contact Ms. Kozhontaeva at <albinaosh@elcat.kg>.

Zamira Nazarova, Program Assistant/Office Manager, joined the ABA ROLI’s Osh office in October 2010. She has previously worked with Save the Children and the UN World Food Program. You can contact Zamira Nazarova at <znazarova@elcat.kg>.

Rustamjan Sultanov, Technical Manager, joined ABA ROLI in January 2003. He is in charge of technical management and administration in the Bishkek office. His main duties include logistical support, cooperation with local service organizations, assisting foreign colleagues in getting visas, solving custom issues, and organizing meetings and travel for local and foreign staff. He holds a degree in custom law from Kyrgyz State National University. You can reach Rustamjan Sultanov at <rsultanov@elcat.kg>.

Madina Talatbekova, Deputy Field Finance Manager/Bishkek Office Manager, joined ABA ROLI in February 2005 and assists in the financial management and administration of day-to-day operations of the Bishkek office. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked as a finance officer for Every Child (UK) and Save the Children (UK), as a marketing and credit specialist for Demir Bank. She holds a degree in English from Osh State University and a degree in finance and banking from Kyrgyz State National University. You can contact Madina Talatbekova at <madinat@elcat.kg>.

Richard Grawey, Legal Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in October 2011. Mr. Grawey recently oversaw a U.S. Department of State-funded international human rights project in Iraq. This followed his more than 20 years’ as a judge in the State of Illinois where he presided over a wide range of criminal cases from murder to probationable offenses, and in every stage of the proceedings from arraignments and pre-trial matters to post-trial motions and sentencing. He has also heard civil cases and has an additional 15 years experience as an attorney and Congressional committee counsel. You can contact Richard Grawey at richard.grawey@abaroli.md.

Olimpia Iovu, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in 2005, first as a legal assistant and now as a staff attorney providing expertise on criminal law issues. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Iovu worked for 3 years as a legal adviser at the Governmental Agent Department of the Moldovan Ministry of Justice. She holds a diploma in international law from the State University of Moldova. She speaks Romanian, Russian, English and French. You can contact Olimpia Iovu at olimpia_iovu@abaroli.md.

Ion Miron, Office Manager/Field Financial Manager, joined ABA ROLI in February 2008. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, 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 M.B.A. from the Technical University of Moldova in cooperation with Ghent University, Belgium. He is fluent in English, Finnish and Russian. You can contact Ion Miron at imiron@abaroli.md.

Mihaela Vidaicu, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in June of 2008 and handles criminal law issues for the Moldova program. Ms. Vidaicu holds two degrees in law from the State University of Moldova and has taught criminal law at the university for the past three years. You can contact Mihaela Vidaicu at mvidaicu@abaroli.md.

Melissa Hooper, Russia Country Director, first joined ABA ROLI in 2004 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she managed public defender centers, strategic litigation programs, a human rights law firm and helped connect targeted activists with defense lawyers in the aftermath of the Andijan events. When the Uzbekistan office was closed, she moved to the ABA ROLI office in Almaty, where she was the regional program manager for advocacy programs in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, working with lawyers in all three countries to share best practices and prepare for the first-ever jury trials in Kazakhstan. Ms. Hooper has also worked with the Azerbaijan office on human rights projects and has been the interim director of the Ukraine office. Most recently, Ms. Hooper worked in California supervising litigation teams investigating and litigating habeas petitions in death penalty cases in the United States and Mexico. She authored a practice guide on investigating state misconduct claims and co-organized an ongoing student training program and law clinic for up to 30 students each year. Ms. Hooper was a judicial law clerk for the United States Federal District Court in the Southern District of Texas for two years. Prior to that, she was a Soros justice fellow. Ms. Hooper graduated from U.C. Berkeley Law School. While in law school, she co-drafted domestic violence legislation that was passed at the state level and signed into law. You can contact Melissa Hooper at mhooper@abamos.ru

Anton Alferov, Deputy Country Director, joined ABA ROLI’s Moscow office in March 2007 and provides technical and legal expertise in the areas of combating corruption on the municipal level and combating human trafficking. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, 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 Ph.D. 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. You can contact Anton Alferov at <aalferov@abamos.ru>

Julia Antonova, Directing Attorney for Public Access to Justice, has been with ABA ROLI since May 2006. Before joining ABA ROLI, she worked as program director and senior lecturer of the Gender Studies Center at 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 focusing on violence against women, gender studies, gender stereotypes and gender discrimination. She graduated from the history department of the Samara State University and law department of the Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Information Technology. You can contact Julia Antonova at <jantonova@abamos.ru>.

Dmitry Badeev, IT Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in December 1998. He graduated from the Mathematics Faculty of Moscow State University, is a Microsoft Certified Professional and a member of the Russia's Writer's Union. You can contact Dmitry Badeev at <dbadeev@abamos.ru>.

Olga Baum, Office Manager, joined ABA ROLI 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, she began working for Care International in 1992 and in 1993 became the office manager for Eurasia Foundation, where she later became the senior administrator of the Russia office. In 2003 she received a degree in human resources management from the Academy of National Economy. You can contact Olga Baum at <obaum@abamos.ru>.

Olga Beresnevich, Staff Attorney for Criminal Law Reform Program, joined ABA ROLI in October 2009. Before joining ABA ROLI, she worked as an in-house attorney for four years. She graduated from Moscow State Law Academy. You can contact Olga Beresnevich at <oberesnevich@abamos.ru>.

Anton Chazov, Directing Attorney for Criminal Law and Anti-Corruption Program, received his degree from Saint-Petersburg Law Institute of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation in 2000. From 1997 to 2000 he held the position of criminal investigator in the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Petrodvorets District, Saint-Petersburg. In 2000 he entered the department of postgraduate studies, the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Saint-Petersburg   Law Institute of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation. Anton joined ABA ROLI in January 2003 as the staff attorney for Criminal law reform project. In 2006-2008 Anton was the Law Enforcement/Legal Consultant for the EU Project “Countering Human trafficking in the Russian Federation”. In March, 2008 he rejoined ABA ROLI. The areas of his responsibility include anti-corruption and anti-human trafficking projects, defense bar training in defending the rights of victims in criminal proceedings.

Oxana Chornaya, Accountant, joined ABA ROLI in May 2008. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked for Charities Aid Foundation in Moscow as a leading accountant for six years. She is a finance & credit graduate of Moscow Banking Institute. You can contact Oxana Chornaya at <ochornaya@abamos.ru>.

Sergei Kurakov, Staff Attorney, studied international law at the Law and Economics Faculty of Moscow State Linguistics University. While there, he worked as an IT specialist at the Russian Union of Travel Industry, a non-profit association of travel companies, until his graduation in 2007. From 2007 to 2009, he worked as a corporate lawyer with various companies in telecommunications, retail and international tourism. He joined ABA ROLI in 2009 as the staff attorney for the professional development program.

Vera Romanova, Program Administrator, joined ABA ROLI in August 1996. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Romanova worked as a senior researcher at the Institute of U.S. and Canadian Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. She is a graduate of Moscow State University. You can contact Vera Romanova at <vromanova@abamos.ru>.

Ekaterina Smolyannikova, Staff Attorney for Professional Ethics, Discipline and Regulation, joined ABA ROLI in December 2008. Before joining ABA ROLI, she managed the international partnerships of the Association of Russian Lawyers, including since August 2007 the International Cooperation Committee and the Committee on Advocacy and Notaries. Ms. Smolyannikova also has experience as an English contract law language instructor at Moscow State Linguistic University. She is a Ph.D. student doing research on international public law mediation. You can contact Ekaterina Smolyannikova at <ksmolyannikova@abamos.ru>.

Maria Voskobitova, Directing Attorney for the Criminal Law Reform Program and Professional Development , joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in July 2006. From December 1998 until June 2006, she worked for the Russian NGO, the Center 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 and three day sessions and three-week courses on European Human Rights Defense and International Human Rights Defense. Ms. Voskobitova has contributed to the writing and editing of several books and publications devoted to European and International Human Rights Defense and to the development of legal skills. She is a 2000 graduate of Moscow State Law Academy, with a prior degree in human rights law and Practice from Birmingham University. She has interned with INTERIGHTS, the international human rights non-governmental organization headquartered in London. You can contact Maria Voskobitova at <mvoskobitova@abamos.ru>.

Julia Yurkevich, Project Coordinator and Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in January 2009. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked for Wolters Kluwer in Moscow as a senior conference manager for two years. She also previously worked as a project coordinator at the Institute for Law and Public Policy. She is a graduate of Moscow State University. You can contact Julia Yurkevich at <jyurkevich@abamos.ru>.

Boris Zelenin, Driver, joined ABA ROLI in 2008. Mr. Zelenin worked as a driver from 1974 to 1991 at the Scientific Institute Energetic Laboratory. From 1991 to 1994, he worked as a driver at the Restoration Stock Company. He was a driver at the IRI from 1994 to 2008.

Marit Rasmussen, Country Director for Tajikistan, Ms. Rasmussen’s first affiliation with ABA ROLI came in 2003, when she served as a liaison in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Before rejoining ABA ROLI as country director for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2007, Ms. Rasmussen was deputy director of the International Senior Lawyers Project in New York. She has also served as research and development director for the Mental Disability Advocacy Center in Hungary, where she managed a research and advocacy project on guardianship and disability law in several eastern European countries. From 1993–2003, Ms. Rasmussen practiced law 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 at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office. A published author, she has contributed to reports and articles on international human rights protection of persons with disabilities. You may contact Marit Rasmussen at marit.rasmussen@americanbar.org.

Larisa Petrosyan, Deputy Country Director, joined ABA ROLI in September 1997 and has worked in a variety of capacities, both administrative and programmatic. In 2011, Ms. Petrosyan was promoted to serve as deputy country director and is responsible for supervisory oversight of all programs and activities. She is also involved in financial oversight of programs and she contributes to program development, implementation and reporting for all ABA ROLI activities in Tajikistan. In her years with ABA ROLI, Ms. Petrosyan has lent her talent and skills to programs in a variety of fields, including criminal law reform, gender rights, anti-human trafficking, judicial reform, legal profession reform and legal education. She graduated from the Tajik State Pedagogical University’s Foreign Language Faculty in 1996, and obtained her law degree from the Tajik State University in 2007. You can contact Larisa Petrosyan at LarisaP@abaroli.tj.

Nodira Aminova, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in February 2010. Ms. Aminova completed a one-year exchange program at a high school in Portland, Oregon, earning diplomas from both American and Tajik schools. Thereafter she studied law at the Russian-Tajik Slavonic University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, earning her degree in 2007. In 2008, she earned an LL.M. degree from the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. From 2008 to 2010, she worked for a GTZ project on reform of the civil code and procedure in Tajikistan and then joined the law firm Akhmedov, Azizov, Abdulhamidov as a senior associate. Ms. Aminova is fluent in Russian, Tajik, German and English. You can reach Nodira Aminova at Nodira.Aminova@abaroli.tj.

Elena Kamolova, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in January 2009. Prior to that, Ms. Kamolova had been a practicing advocate since obtaining her law degree and advocate’s license in 2003. In her practice, Ms. Kamolova specialized in family law and civil practice and has a special interest in procedural law—both civil and criminal. She focuses her efforts primarily on our criminal justice reform program, including trainings on the Criminal Procedure Code for advocates, prosecutors and judges. She has served as a trainer for ABA ROLI and other organizations in the area of family law and was the primary editor of a practical handbook for defense advocates. She is currently working on evaluating implementation of the Tajikistan’s new Criminal Procedure Code. You can contact Elena Kamolova at ElenaK@abaroli.tj.

Djamshed Khudonazarov, Office Manager, began his career with ABA ROLI as a driver and assistant when the Dushanbe office first opened in 1997. In 2003, he was promoted to office manager, which requires him to be involved in a variety of administrative and programmatic activities. You can contact Djamshed Khudonazarov at JamshedK@abaroli.tj.

Alisher Majitov, Staff Attorney, is a 2000 graduate of the Tax and Legal Institute, where he was invited to serve as a professor of criminal law and procedure. In addition, he provided legal services to commercial enterprises as an attorney for Contract, an international law firm. He is a member of the Republican Collegium of Advocates, also known as SIPAR, and has extensive experience in criminal defense and other human rights cases. Mr. Majitov joined ABA ROLI’s staff in September 2010 and has worked extensively on our criminal justice reform programs, including conducting training for defense advocates, prosecutors and law enforcement officers. He has participated in working groups on the development of the Advocatura in Tajikistan and is involved in analyzing the implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Code. You can reach Alisher Majitov at AlisherM@abaroli.tj.

Bakhtiyor Mirzohayotov, Field Finance Manager, joined ABA ROLI in July 2007 and is responsible for financial operations of ABA ROLI’s office in Tajikistan. He graduated from the Tajik State University of Commerce, World Economy and Law Faculty in 2004. He began his career as an assistant accountant at a local private company. Later, he served as a loan officer for a Tajik project focused on micro and small loans, where he conducted financial marketing and analysis, and negotiated terms of a credit and management of repayment of loans. Mr. Mirzohayotov also worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection’s Department of Environmental Policy as a senior staff analyst. He is currently a graduate student at Tajik State University of Commerce, where he is specializing in national economy management and is writing his thesis on economic risk management of entrepreneurial activities of trade enterprises. You can contact Bakhtiyor Mirzohayotov at BakhtiyorM@abaroli.tj.

Malika Sohibnazarova, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in February 2009. She has since worked primarily on ABA ROLI’s gender rights programs. She has served as a trainer and published articles on gender rights issues in Tajikistan. She has a law degree from Tajik National State University’s International Law Department. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Sohibnazarova’s work focused on juvenile justice, including teaching on law, human rights and children’s rights to convicted youth detained at the Dushanbe Mentoring Colony. She has previously worked as a translator and is fluent in Russian and Tajik. You can contact Malika Sohibnazarova at MalikaS@abaroli.tj.

Abdurahmon Tavalloev, Driver and Assistant Office Manager, has been a driver at ABA ROLI since August 2003. In 2011, Mr. Tavalloev was promoted to assistant office manager to reflect the variety of activities that he assists with.

Elnara Agaeva, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI’s Ashgabat office in July 2007 as a program assistant, working on a street law project. In September 2007, she was promoted to the Staff Attorney to be in charge of the Social Advocate Program. She also assisted in implementation of the Turkmenistan Community Empowerment Program. Elnara holds a law degree from Magtumguly Turkmen State University. Before joining ABA ROLI, she worked as a legal consultant for the private enterprise “A we A” in Ashgabat. Her prior experience also includes working at Kopetdag Etrap Court as a court bailiff and at the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan as a Senior Secretary for Judge’s Panel of Criminal Court. Ms. Agaeva is fluent in Russian, Turkmen and English. You can contact Elnara at <Elnaraagaeva@yahoo.com>.

Michael T. Lechner, Country Director, rejoined ABA ROLI in 2009. Prior to taking the country director position in Ukraine, Mr. Lechner designed and implemented criminal law reforms in Moldova aimed at improving legal competencies of defense attorneys and prosecutors. And, in 2009, he spearheaded ABA ROLI efforts to improve the trial skills of lawyers working in a newly-created adversarial criminal system in Tajikistan. He initially joined ABA ROLI in 1997 when, as a rule of law liaison in Kyrgyzstan, he helped establish and develop the first Judicial Training Center in Central Asia. Mr. Lechner previously worked as a lead prosecutor in the Cook County States’ Attorney Office in Chicago, Illinois.  In addition to managing a criminal docket, he wrote extensively and argued appellate briefs before the Illinois Court of Appeals. Prior to his nearly 20-year legal career, Mr. Lechner worked as a professional broadcast journalist at several television stations in the U.S. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Kansas State University and a J.D. with cum laude honors from William Mitchell College of Law. You may contact Mr. Lechner at michael.t.lechner@gmail.com.

Alyona Filipenko, Senior Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in October 2009. Alyona has extensive experience working with international development technical assistance projects, including as an EU law expert for the TACIS Legal Training Project, justice and home affairs expert/transport law expert with the EUPLAC (Ukrainian-European Legal Advice Center), legal expert for the UNDP Blue Ribbon Commission, project coordinator with the ICITAP/U.S. Department of Justice project and program specialist-legal advisor for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She served as an independent consultant for IOM on draft legal analysis in human trafficking, as well as a part-time law professor of comparative and European law at the National Taras Shevchenko University, Institute of International Relations. Alyona has a bachelor’s degree in international relations, a master’s degree in international law (magna cum laude) and a Ph.D. in law from the National Taras Shevchenko University, Institute of International Relations. She has also studied as a scholarship fellow at both the University of Innsbruck, Austria and University of Brussels, Belgium studying EU law. In her time with ABA ROLI, Ms. Filipenko has successfully coordinated projects to counteract human trafficking, including that of children, and cyber-crime. You can contact Alyona Filipenko at afilipenko@abaroli.org.ua

Katya Kozlova, Sub-Grants Manager/Outreach Coordinator joined ABA ROLI in March 1999 as a program assistant. She is currently responsible for sub-grant management for all legal aid clinic and non-governmental organization advocacy partners, as well as all program promotion and outreach. Prior to working for ABA ROLI, she taught English at a vocational school for three years. She holds a master's degree in English from Cherkasy National Bohdan Khmel’nyts’ky University, Ukraine. In her time with ABA ROLI, Ms. Kozlova has assisted a whole array of rule of law projects and is now supporting the Program to Combat Xenophobia and Racism in Ukraine. You can contact Katya Kozlova at katyakozlova@abaroli.org.ua

William McGilton, Legal Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in April 2010 and is currently working on the Defense Advocacy Program and Law Enforcement Reform Project in Ukraine. Since 2001, Mr. McGilton worked as a contract attorney, mostly focusing on the following types of cases: anti-competitive implications under the Hart Scott Rodino Act, Federal Trade Commission second requests pertaining to potential anti-competitive practices, securities regulations (accounting and reporting issues), trademark infringement litigation, patent infringement litigation and employment discrimination. Mr. McGilton is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and South Carolina. He received his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor of science in political science from Southern Connecticut State University. You may contact William McGilton at billmcgilton@abaroli.org.ua.

Inga Meladze, Field Finance Manager/Office Manager, joined ABA ROLI in July 2001 and is responsible for all financial and administrative aspects of managing ABA ROLI’s office in Ukraine. She graduated from the National University Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and speaks Russian, Ukrainian, English, French, and Spanish. You can contact Inga Meladze at ingam@abaroli.org.ua

Tanya Omelchenko, Administrative Assistant/Translator, joined ABA ROLI in April 2009. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, she worked as translator at a project implemented by WorleyParsons Ukraine LL.C. in the field of resources and energy. Tanya graduated from Kremenchug State Polytechnic University in 2007 and speaks Russian, Ukrainian, English and German. You can contact Tanya Omelchenko at tomelchnko@abaroli.org.ua

Serhiy Pikul, Facilities Manager/Driver, joined ABA ROLI in 1999. Before joining ABA ROLI, He was deputy head of the Keramzit gravel plant of Korchevaty Construction Materials Works. He has an engineering degree from the Energy Department of Kyiv University of Food Processing Technologies.

Olena Rodionenko, Senior Staff Atorney, joined ABA ROLI in September 2010 and coordinates the Program to Combat Xenophobia and Racism in Ukraine.  Ms. Rodionenko has more than five years of experience implementing development projects. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Ms. Rodioneko served as a legal trainer and expert for the Ukrainian immigration non-governmental organization Mardsi and as a project officer for the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. In these capacities, Ms. Rodioneko was responsible for developing trainings, managing project implementation, including tracking project deliverables and outputs, preparing reports and legal analyses on immigration issues, and liaising with donors and other program implementers in Ukraine. Ms. Rodioneko has also worked at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine in both the consular and the resident legal advisor offices, where she served as the senior consular investigator and program manager, respectively. Ms. Rodioneko received her J.D. from Kyiv National T. Schevchenko University and an LL.M. in international and comparative law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. You can contact Olena Rodionenko at orodionenko@abaroli.org.ua

Tetiana Rogozianska, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in September 2010 and has since worked on the Defense Advocacy Project. Prior to joining ABA ROLI, Tetiana worked for the Leavitt Institute for International Development, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the rule of law in Ukraine, where together with American lawyers, she co-trained senior law students in the American judicial system. Tetiana holds an LL.M. in advocacy practice and teaching from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (CA, USA) and a bachelor’s degree in law from Kyiv National Economic University. You can contact Tetiana Rogozianska at trogozianska@abaroli.org.ua

Oleksiy Semenov, IT Specialist, joined ABA ROLI in July 2008, working as a part-time independent contractor for all office technology needs. You can contact Oleksiy Semenov at Semenov@abaroli.org.ua

Iryna Sheiko-Ivankiv, Staff Attorney, joined ABA ROLI in October 2010 and has since worked on projects to counteract child trafficking and cyber-crime in Ukraine. She graduated from Yaroslav the Wise National Legal Academy of Ukraine. She has participated in various international trainings and conferences. During 2009–2010, she was a scholar of the Government of the Polish Republic and did academic research in Poland in the area of European Court of Human Rights practice and its influence on the legislative processes in Poland and Ukraine. Now, Ms. Sheiko-Ivankiv is an extramural Ph.D. student at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland, working on the topic of development of human rights of the third generation. She is the author of 17 academic publications. You can contact Iryna Sheiko-Ivankiv at sheiko.ivankiv@abaroli.org.ua