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Experts on countries of origin by surname

Kakhki, Mohammad Hedayati

Iranian Lawyer and PhD in Middle East international politics and law (Durham Univ) - with vast experience in producing expert reports on Iranian Law and the Judicial System; also available to comment on the authentication of legal and other official documents.

Occupation: Iranian lawyer and lecturer in international comparative criminal law; member of the International Bar Association and its Human Rights Institute.
Countries of expertise: Iran

Karekwaivanane, Dr George Hamandishe

Lecturer in African studies at Edinburgh University with extensive experience researching, writing and teaching on the history, politics, and cultures of Southern Africa.

Occupation: Lecturer in African Studies, University of Edinburgh
Countries of expertise: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Kashefi, Roya

Roya Kashefi is a recognised Iran country expert who provides independent analysis and reports to international bodies, NGOs, and courts. Consulted by UN Special Rapporteurs and similar organisations, leveraging her skills in research, documentation, and advocacy, she has conducted extensive investigations into human rights violations in Iran. Her comprehensive reports and policy briefings have informed the EU Parliament’s subcommittee on Human Rights and EU Parliament’s delegation for relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. She actively raises awareness by presenting findings at conferences and fostering collaboration with human rights defenders through impactful advocacy campaigns.

Occupation: Senior Researcher and Head of Human Rights Committee – Association des Chercheurs Iraniens (ACI)
Countries of expertise: Iran

Kenny, Erin

The Expert served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali (1996-7) and conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Guinea (2002-03) for her doctorate in anthropology (2004, University of Kentucky). As a Fulbright Scholar in 2011-12, she taught Development Studies at Mzumbe University in Tanzania. She publishes on cultural topics of household, rites of passage, kinship, and gender and currently teaches at Missouri State University as an Associate.

Occupation: Associate Professor of Anthropology, Missouri State University
Countries of expertise: Guinea, Mali, Tanzania

Kerr Chiovenda, Melissa Skye

The Expert is an assistant professor of anthropology at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi. She has been conducting research in Afghanistan since 2009. The Expert’s main research in Afghanistan concerned ethnic Hazara civil society movements and the transmission of cultural trauma. Her earlier research in Afghanistan concerned Pashtun women who were working with Western NGOs. She has a PhD from the University of Connecticut in anthropology, an MA from Georgetown University in Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies with a Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Crises, and a BS in Russian Language and Literature from Georgetown University. Since 2016, She has been conducting research on the political identity of Afghan, mainly Hazara, refugees in Greece and Italy. She has also started projects concerning the Hazara genocide of the late 1800s, and sexual violence historically and currently experienced by Hazara women.

Prior to working in academia, The Expert was a high school teacher in South Los Angeles. She also worked for United States exchange programs in Russia, was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and spent a summer teaching children at an organization in Nablus, West Bank.

Occupation: Assistant Professor, Zayed University, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Countries of expertise: Afghanistan, Greece, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Khan, Asad Ali

The Expert is a practising Advocate and Barrister-at-Law in Pakistan. He is the Senior Partner of Khan & Co Barristers-at-Law and has repeatedly been appointed as an expert on Pakistani law in the UK court system. The Expert is counsel to foreign governments on Pakistani law and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and practices law in the UK and in Pakistan. The Expert has provided more than 100 reports in immigration and family law cases funded by the Legal Aid Agency and the Scottish Legal Aid Board The reports provided by the Expert have addressed issues related to adultery, adoption, blasphemy, custody and abduction of children, divorce (talaq), divorce (khula), forced conversions, forced marriages, gender based violence, gender identity claims, honour killings, human trafficking, internal relocation, jirgas (tribal councils), law reform, legitimacy of children, Pakistani prisons, protection of witnesses, religious minorities and ethnic groups, statelessness, sexual orientation claims, terrorism offences and women’s protection legislation. The Expert is particularly well-versed in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, judicial review in Pakistani courts, public law issues and national accountability cases. 

In GA v SSHD… Read more

Occupation: ADVOCATE HIGH COURTS PAKISTAN, BARRISTER-AT-LAW (MIDDLE TEMPLE), BA, MSC, MA, LL.B (HONS), LL.M
Countries of expertise: Pakistan

Kharitonov, Maksim

Expert on Russia and Post-Soviet Countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Responds to inquiries within 1 hour and delivers reports within 1 week. Adheres to the minimum rate that meets Legal Aid requirements. Partnered with 15 law firms in the US and UK to provide expert reports on asylum and human rights cases. Authored over 100 reports that contributed to successful asylum claims. Specialised in human rights violations, political persecution, and market conditions in these regions. A seasoned publicist, PR expert, TV presenter, and journalist with a focus on Russia and Post-Soviet states. My background includes producing and hosting television shows, conducting in-depth interviews with political figures, and offering expert consultation on human rights issues. Winner of the Expert Witness Awards in the category of Best Immigration, Asylum & Refugee Expert Witness 2024, hosted by Acquisition International.
Occupation: Expert on Russia and CIS Countries, Human Rights Expert, Journalist and TV Host, Blogger and Host of the YouTube Channel "The Human Rights," Researcher, Publicist, and Lawyer
Countries of expertise: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Khwaja, Maria

Dr. Maria Khwaja's work spans many years conducting research in urban Pakistan across ethnic and political lines with a focus on the violence faced by children who inherit conflict political spaces. She is currently an assistant professor at Salem State University and holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Khwaja's areas of expertise include children's rights and children's agency, political violence by state and non-state actors, terrorism, stateless peoples and internally displaced refugees, schooling and education of children, gender, ethnic and religious discrimination, and military and political governance and violence. Dr. Khwaja is a published academic author with a chapter on her ethnographic work with adolescents published in 2013, a forthcoming article on research methodology in the Global South pending revisions, and several articles forthcoming.

Occupation: Assistant Professor
Countries of expertise: Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States of America

Knörr, Jacqueline

Professor and Head of Research Group Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/S., Germany. 20 years of experience preparing expert reports concerning the issues mentioned under “Expertise: Areas of expertise”.

Occupation: Professor and Head of Research Group
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/S., Germany
Countries of expertise: Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Liberia, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone

Kodi, Dr. Muzong W.

Dr. Muzong W. Kodi has more than 40 years of research, writing and lecturing on Africa as well as working and residing in several African countries. He has written more than 200 country expert reports for asylum seekers and other migrants from several African countries. He has also provided more than 100 authentication reports for official documents and several reports on nationality and adoption cases. As a consultant, he has been contracted by international organisations, regional African organisations, and multinational companies. He previously held senior management positions in Transparency International, Amnesty, International, and the African Centre for Monetary Studies. I also taught at the University of Nairobi in Kenya and the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He holds a PhD in African History from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and speaks fluent French, English, Lingala, and Kikongo, as well as intermediary Swahili.

Occupation: International Consultant in governance, anti-corruption, human rights, as well as political and investment risks in Africa.

Countries of expertise: the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo (ROC or Congo-Brazzaville), Angola, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda… Read more

Occupation: International Consultant in governance, anti-corruption, human rights, as well as political and investment risks in Africa.
Countries of expertise: Angola, Burundi, Congo (Republic of), Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda

Kosumi, Vebi

International Lawyer (UK-based) and political scientist with comprehensive experience in research and Country of Origin reports. Research experience in international public law, international private law, terrorism, international human rights law, international relations, immigration law, OISC Accredited (2005-2012). Expertise in blood feuds, honour killing, human trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, domestic violence, narcotics mafia, human and political rights abuse, opposition and political persecution, risk of return and brutal and degrading treatment and torture. Over two decades of experience working with migrants in the UK. Written over 250 expert reports for Immigration Tribunals, Extradition Courts and Criminal Courts (Crown Courts). Appeared as a witness expert in immigration tribunals, extradition, and criminal courts. Member of the Academy of Experts since 2020. Awarded by Acquisition International  ‘Best Southeast Europe Country of Origin Reports Specialist 2024’

Occupation: International Lawyer with two decades of working experience with migrants in the UK. Over 250 expert reports were submitted.
Countries of expertise: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Serbia (Presevo Valley)

Kriger, Norma

The Expert worked for twelve years in the political science faculty at The John Hopkins University. Since then she has been an independent scholar with experience at USAID. UNDP, the World Bank, Human Rights Watch, and the International Rescue Committee. She is an expert on Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa

Occupation: Political scientist
Countries of expertise: Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Kupatadze, Alexander

Experienced scholar and consultant combining theoretical and practical skills of analysis, intelligence and policy advise with expertise in informal networks, organized crime, corruption, illicit trade, crime-terror nexus, policing and public sector reform

Occupation: Associate Professor, King’s College London
Countries of expertise: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine

Kurlantzick, Joshua

Experienced country of origin expert for all nationals from Southeast Asia and China; specialist from one of the leading think-tanks in the world. Have provided expert witness reports for fifteen years for asylum cases in the UK, Europe, and US for nationals from across South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia – related to political issues, trafficking, slavery, gangs, religion, and many other issues. Also have provided expert witness reports for non-asylum immigration cases for nationals from South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia.

Occupation: Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
Countries of expertise: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam