An American in Moscow

St. Petersburg

After many promises, I finally figured out how to upload photos to the blog.  At the right, you'll notice a new option in the sidebar entitled "Photo Albums."  I've posted a few shots of my apartment in the first photo album.  Enjoy.  This evening, I am leaving for St. Petersburg with two of my co-workers.  We're headed there to have several meetings with representatives of the bar association and prosecutor's offices in the hopes of starting a pro bono legal aid clinic in St. Petersburg.  We're flying up, which should be an experience as we are using Aeroflot, Russia's primary airline.  My first experience with the Russian airline industry.  Yesterday, I met with the President of the Moscow Bar Association and two of his colleagues.  They were greatly interested in my former work in wiretapping, and asked me to present a lecture for the bar association.  I'm sure everyone will think I'm a spy once they find out that I worked for the U.S. government handling eavesdropping matters.

The weather has again turned quite nice.  It reminds me of late fall in Washington, D.C. or early Fall in Northern Michigan.  The air is cool and crisp, but the sun has been shining the last two days.  I walked home from work yesterday to enjoy the weather (about a 40 minute trip).  I stopped at a department store called Kalinka Stockman and found a western supermarket -- Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Aunt Jemima pancake mix, and a ton of other staples and luxuries available in the States.  It all comes at a cost, however.  The pancake mix cost 250 rubles (about $10).  There are no real bargains to be found at Stockmans.  I bought a box of Lucky Charms, some milk, and a can of Pringles.  I don't think I'll be shopping much at Stockman's for my food.  Luckily, there is a supermarket right across the street from my apartment that is quite nice and a little more affordable (but still pricey by Russian standards).  It's really convenient and I'm sure I'll be shopping there quite a bit.

Several people have asked me what I miss most in Moscow.  In descending order they are: (1) my wife; (2) my dogs; and (3) my shower.  The shower in my apartment kind of sucks.  Good water pressure, but the shower head is hand held and little awkward to handle.  I'm sure I'll get used to it.  I think I'll be bringing Emma (a/k/a Jones), one of our Jack Russell Terriers, over to Moscow in October.  I may have found a dog walker and someone to dog sit when I am away on travel. If those two things work out, Jonesy will be battling the street dogs in Moscow soon.

I hope to have pictures from St. Petersburg on the blog over the weekend.

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative

I thought I should probably give a brief description of what I will actually be doing in Moscow.  I will be working for the American Bar Association ("ABA") Rule of Law Initiative ("ROLI") in Moscow.  My official title is Criminal Law Legal Adviser (a/k/a Criminal Law Specialist or Liaison).  The ABA has had a presence in Russia since 1990, and works to foster legal reforms in post-Soviet Russia as well as in the former Republics that made up the Soviet Union.  The ABA does work all around the world in the Rule of Law area, including burgeoning programs in the Middle East and China.  Central and Eastern Europe (including Russia) are part of what is known as the Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative within the ABA.  It's the longest running rule of law program at the ABA, and its alumni Liaisons are known at the "CEELI Mafia" and are spread out in international development jobs around the globe, including at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department, and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private development companies. A good overview of the ABA ROLI program can be found here:  http://www.abanet.org/rol/europe_and_eurasia/

I've been told that my duties in Moscow will center on legal reform programs focusing on criminal procedure, criminal defense bar training (including jury trial and advocacy skills), indigent defense programs (Russia doesn't really have any pro bono programs for the poor right now), anti-corruption initiatives, and human trafficking.  I'll be working with at least two Russian attorney's who work for the ABA in these areas in Moscow.  Additionally, my Country Director, who runs the office and overseas all the programs (including legal reform programs outside my area) and a Regional Director (who supervises a large regional area, including Russia) also work out of the Moscow office.  Both the Country Director and Regional Director are U.S. lawyers.  I'm also excited because I will be traveling around Russia and will not be limited to just working in Moscow.  I think it will be a great way to see and explore the largest country on earth, while at the same time working to foster meaningful land much needed legal reforms.  I've been told to expect VERY incremental progress on these areas during my year in Russia.  I'll have to get use to that idea -- I'm accustomed to getting results done quickly in the U.S. justice system.  But I can't wait to get started.  Only one month until my departure date!