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• Nemtsov: Film Screening and Discussion

  • When
    28 Nov 2018
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:30 PM (UTC-07:00)
  • Location
    111 E Taylor St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

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  NEMTSOV 

  FILM SCREENING & DISCUSSION:
  Wednesday, November 28, 2018
  

  6:00-6:45 p.m. – Cocktail & Appetizer Reception (includes 2 drink tickets for wine, beer or soda and heavy hors d’oeuvres)
  6:45-7:00 p.m. – Move to Screening Room
  7:00-8:00 p.m. – Movie Screening
  8:00-8:30 p.m. – Q&A with Vladimir Kara-Murza 

  VENUE:
  Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Room 544
  111 E Taylor St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

  Thank you to The McCain Institute for bringing us this unique opportunity!
  

  On Wednesday, November 28th, PCFR will host a screening of Nemtsov, a documentary film about the late leader of the Russian opposition directed by his friend and colleague Vladimir Kara-Murza.

  Nemtsov chronicles a remarkable political life. It is a story told by those who knew Boris Nemtsov at different times: when he was a young scientist and took his first steps in politics; when he held high government offices and was considered Boris Yeltsin’s heir apparent; when he led Russia’s democratic opposition to Vladimir Putin. The film contains rare archival footage, including from the Nemtsov family. Nemtsov is a portrait. It is not about death. It is about the life of a man who could have been president of Russia. 

  The film is in Russian, with English subtitles. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Vladimir Kara-Murza. 

  
  

  Vladimir Kara-Murza

  Vladimir Kara-Murza is vice chairman of the Open Russia movement and chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom. He was a longtime colleague of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Kara-Murza is a former deputy leader of the People’s Freedom Party and was a candidate for the Russian State Duma. He has testified before parliaments in Europe and North America, and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Laws that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries.

  Twice, in 2015 and 2017, he was poisoned with an unknown substance and left in a coma; the attempts on his life were widely viewed as politically motivated. Kara-Murza is a contributing writer for the Washington Post, and has previously worked as a journalist for Russian broadcast and print media, including Ekho Moskvy and Kommersant. He directed two documentary films, They Chose Freedom (2005) and Nemtsov (2016). He is the author of Reform or Revolution (Moscow 2011) and a contributor to Russia’s Choices: The Duma Elections and After (London 2003), Russian Liberalism: Ideas and People (Moscow 2007), Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law (London 2013), and Boris Nemtsov and Russian Politics: Power and Resistance (Stuttgart 2018).

  He has led international efforts to commemorate Nemtsov, including with the designations of Boris Nemtsov Plaza in Washington D.C. and Boris Nemtsov Square in Vilnius, Lithuania. Kara-Murza is a recipient of the Magnitsky Human Rights Award, the Sakharov Prize for Journalism as an Act of Conscience, and the Geneva Summit Courage Award. He holds an M.A. (Cantab.) in History from Cambridge. He is married, with three children.

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• Kazakhstan in a Changing Eurasia

  • When
    04 Dec 2018
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Gainey Ranch Golf Club at 7600 E Gainey Club Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

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  With  Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhanov
  

  SCHEDULE:
  Cocktail Reception: 6:00 pm
  Dinner: 6:45-7:20 pm
  Program begins:7:30 pm

  VENUE: 
  Gainey Ranch Golf Club
  7600 E Gainey Club Dr
  Scottsdale, AZ 85258

  REGISTRATION:
  Early-Bird Rate through November 30th
  Standard Registration: $55
  Standard Registration (Non-Member): $70

  Standard Rate:
  Standard Registration: $65
  Standard Registration (non-members): $80

  Thank you to David Merkel and Claire Sechler Merkel for introducing us to Amb. Kazykhanov.
  

  Join us for dinner as we discuss Kazakhstan with Mr. Erzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States. 

  Prior to his appointment as the Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Mr Erzhan Kazykhanov has served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  Before that, His Excellency held the position of Foreign Affairs Aide to the President of Kazakhstan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

  Mr. Erzhan Kazykhanov has previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Austria, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the International Organisations in Vienna and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

  Born on 21 August 1964, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he earned his bachelor's degree in Oriental studies from the Saint Petersburg State University, Russian Federation in 1987. Ambassador Kazykhanov holds a PhD degree in History from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

  Amb. Kazykhanov is an author of numerous articles on Kazakhstan’s foreign policy issues, multilateral diplomacy and the role of the United Nations. His Excellency fluently speaks Kazakh, Russian, English and Arabic, and is the recipient of several State Awards.

  Topic of Discussion: 

  The future of trade in Asia could depend heavily on what becomes of China’s expansive One Belt, One Road initiative, which calls for massive investment in and development of trade routes in the region. How can Kazakhstan capitalize on such initiatives? What policy innovations and private-sector initiatives are needed if Kazakhstan’s manufacturers are to compete globally and fully integrate global value chains?

  
  

  
  

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• The Rule of Law in Hong Kong and Human Rights

  • When
    12 Dec 2018
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:15 PM (UTC-07:00)
  • Location
    111 E Taylor St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

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  Dennis Kwok Wing-Hang

   

  TOPICAL DISCUSSION: 
  Wednesday, December 12, 2018
  11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

  VENUE:
  Arizona State University
  Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Room #601
  111 E Taylor St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

  Thank you to ASU Sandra Day College of Law for introducing us to Mr. Kwok. This event is being held in conjunction with the  Arizona Asian Bar Association. 

  
  

  The Hon. Dennis KWOK is a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR representing the legal profession in Hong Kong. He was elected in 2012 and then re-elected in 2016.

  Mr Kwok is a founding member of the Civic Party. He is also the convenor of The Professionals Guild (an alliance formed amongst the functional constituency Members in the Legislative Council).

  Mr Kwok is currently the Vice Chairman of the House Committee and the Deputy Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services in HKSAR Legislative Council. The protection of "One Country Two Systems", the rule of law in Hong Kong, human rights, and anti-human trafficking issues are his main focus areas.

  He is now serving as a member of the Competition Commission, a member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (serving as Chairman of the Building Committee), and a director of the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited.

  Mr Kwok graduated from King’s College London in 1999 where he received his LLB. He was admitted as a solicitor in the High Court of Hong Kong in 2002 and to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales in 2003. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2006.

  Mr Kwok trained and worked as a solicitor at an international law firm Herbert Smith for five years. His current practice as a barrister focuses on civil cases, international arbitration and judicial review.

  Topics of Discussion:

  • Independence of the Hong Kong judiciary
    
  • Human rights under "One Country Two Systems"
    
  • The roles and status of the Hong Kong legal profession
    
  • The challenges and fears coming ahead, including the interpretations of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and national security legislations.

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