Vera Mischenko, Ph.D., J.D.

Research

Vera Mischenko is president of the Ecojuris Institute of Environmental Law, Russia’s first public interest law organization, and brought the first successful environmental lawsuits against the government. Her Pew fellowship project goals included promoting citizen participation in Russia to challenge the oil and gas development that threatens marine biodiversity and ecosystem health in the Caspian and Black seas. Through her fellowship, Mischenko and her colleagues researched international environmental treaties and agreements (relating to public participation and access to information) to which Russia is party or should be, under customary international law. Also based on this research, petroleum companies operating in the Sakhalin region of Russia submitted environmental impact assessments based on zero discharge.

To learn more about Mischenko, visit her bio online: http://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/vera-mischenko.