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Independent Council of Legal Expertise

Moscow, Russia

Grants

2015 (3 years 5 months)
$300,000

The Independent Council of Legal Expertise is a non-profit established in Moscow in 1993 that brings together an influential group of leading reform-minded lawyers and legal experts with a mission to facilitate legal support for democratic development in Russia. The organization is distinctive for its long-term and close contacts with government, media, the judiciary, research establishments, human rights organizations, and trade unions. The project works to reform judicial practice in Russia, improving access to justice primarily by generating a critical mass of informed legal opinion on key human rights issues. It provides legal opinions in the more significant and complex human rights legal cases, with a special focus on non-profits, journalists, and the media. The Council publishes widely in the print and electronic media.

2012 (3 years)
$375,000

This three-year grant of $375,000 to the Independent Council of Legal Expertise will support a project to strengthen access to justice in the Russian Federation. The grantee, based in Moscow, brings a network of leading Russian academic legal experts and practicing lawyers to provide legal support for public interest litigation by non-profits. Where appropriate, the grantee will take cases to the Russian Constitutional Court, the Russian Supreme Court, and the European Court of Human Rights. The grantee will publish case commentaries on its website. The project will also build a much-needed dialogue between the judicial community and civil society through the creation of “public advisory councils” of judges and civil society leaders in at least four Russian regions. The project will provide legal advice to journalists and media outlets, and train journalists in court reporting.

2008 (3 years)
$600,000

To facilitate reform of the courts and law enforcement agencies and improve mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Russia; and to partially fund the purchase of office space (over three years).

2006 (8 years)
$450,000

To purchase a permanent office in Moscow.

2005 (3 years)
$600,000

In support of activities to facilitate reform of the courts and law enforcement agencies and improve mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Russia (over three years).

2002 (3 years)
$450,000

To facilitate court reform and improve mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Russia (over three years).

2000 (2 years)
$225,000

To enhance the legal competence of human rights organizations in Russia (over two years).

1999 (1 year)
$75,000

To enhance the legal competence of human rights organizations in Russia.