Iryna Chupryna

Iryna Chupryna "graduated in 1998 from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Kyiv with a master’s degree in Cultural Studies, and in 2001 from the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany with a master’s degree in European Studies. In 1996-2000 she was an active member of the European student organization AEGEE. In 2004, deputy head of the Secretariat of the Freedom of Choice Coalition, responsible for the development of monitoring projects for the presidential elections in Ukraine, fundraising and the supervision of the activities of project managers. In 2004 she also joined a civic campaign PORA (yellow wing). As a member of PORA Coordination Center, she systematized and supervised PORA’s external contacts, assisted in the organization of day-to-day work of the Coordination Center. She received the memorial award “To a prominent participant of the Orange Revolution”. Chupryna is one of the founders of the civic party PORA, and in 2004-2006 was a member of the party’s Central Council. In 2005 she participated in the seminar for young political leaders of Europe and Eurasia in Ohrid, Macedonia.

"She is a co-author of the case study “PORA-Vanguard of Democracy” and of the chapter “It’s Time! Pora and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine” in the book by Forbrig, J. & Demes, P. (eds.) (2007) “Reclaiming Democracy. Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe”. In November 2007 she expects to obtain a master’s degree in international public policy from University College, London. The master’s dissertation was dedicated to the comparative analysis of the Ukraine’s transition to democracy with the failed revolution attempts in Azerbaijan, with a special focus on U.S. respective involvement. She has a keen interest in studying transition processes in Eurasia, especially in Eastern Europe and in Muslim states of Central Asia and Caucasus."

• Associate, Democratization Policy Council