Teams

Mate Chapichadze has been serving as the coordinator of the Kutaisi Democracy School at the Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD) since 2021. He holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Akaki Tsereteli State University of Kutaisi and has successfully passed the qualification exam of the Georgian Bar Association.

Prior to joining EECMD, Mate worked as a long-term observer for the International Society for Fair Elections And Democracy (ISFED) in the Sachkhere district. He also served as a coordinator for community development projects at the Imereti Regional Office of the Charity and Humanitarian Center “Abkhazia” (CHCA). At different times, he worked as a legal consultant for programs providing legal assistance and long-term resettlement for internally displaced persons from occupied territories.

Mate’s focus is on safeguarding and empowering socially vulnerable groups to ensure they have equitable access to public goods, similar to other social groups.

Nika Khomasuridze joined EECMD in 2021 and holds the position of program officer. He possesses years of experience working at civil society and international organisations. Previously, Nika worked as an assistant to the team director of long-term analysts at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and had gone through several internships in CSOs and the public sector, in particular, Transparency International Georgia (TI), Good Governance Initiative (GGI), Parliament of Georgia, National Center For Educational Quality Enhancement, etc.

Nika has pursued his education in several countries abroad: he has successfully graduated from the Corvinus University of Budapest and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management. He was also part of an exchange program at the Turiba University of Latvia and graduated from International Black Sea University with his Bachelor level.

Irine Kurtanidze works as a communication officer at the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy. Before joining the EECMD, she worked for public, private, and civil society sectors and academia. Irine specializes in the fields of public relations, strategic communications, political communications and elections campaign management. Furthermore, she researches voting behaviour and elections. Irine is also an invited lecturer of Political Communications, Strategic Communications and Elections and Campaigning at the Caucasus University.

Irine Kurtanidze graduated from Caucasus University with a major in Mass Communications. She is also a Chevening Scholar and holds a Master degree in Political Communications from the University of London.

Levan Tsutskiridze is the Executive Director of EECMD. Before he joined the NIMD/EECMD Levan worked as the Rector of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). Earlier, he was the Project Manager for the reform of the Georgian civil registration system. In his earlier career, Levan served at the OSCE and with Open Society Foundation in Georgia.

Levan Tsutskiridze graduated from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His research and professional interests are in foreign and security affairs, political institution building and democratic development.

Maia Machavariani works as a Programs Director at the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD). In 2013-2015 she led the South Caucasus Regional Programme at the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). In 2012-2013 Maia worked at MSI Georgia, Good Governance in Georgia (G3) Program under USAID Contract in the Outreach Department.

Maia is a PhD Candidate at Dublin City University with a major in political science. Maia has recently completed her PhD visiting research fellowships at Harvard University (2018) and Oxford Brookes University (2017). Maia holds Master Degree in International Relations and European Studies from Metropolitan University Prague and Bachelor and Master Degree in Turkish Language and Literature from Free University of Tbilisi.

Nino Kochiashvili works as a Financial Assistant/Accountant at the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy. Before joining EECMD, she worked at the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia in the capacity of Assistant to the Deputy Minister. Prior to that, in 2014-2015 years, she worked as a Financial Officer at the JSI – Georgian branch of Jonh Snow Inc. – USAID Funded SUSTAIN Project. From 2007 to 2014, she served as a Financial Manager at the APLR – Association of Professionals on Land and Realty – USAID Funded Land Market Development Project.  In 2001-2007 years, she worked at the Financial Department of the Association for Protection of Land Owner’s Rights in various positions.

Nino Kochiashvili graduated from Tbilisi Independent University with the degree in Economics ( specialization in the field of Credits and Finances).

Shorena Joel is the Financial Director at EECMD. Before this assignment, she worked as the Finance and Administration Officer at United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Georgia – UNFAO during 2009-2015.

She also worked at IREX/IATP as a County Coordinator for Georgia in 2006-2007 and as a Training Program Officer at IREX Media Innovations Program – USAID funded project during 2005-2006.

In 2007/2008 she received a governmental scholarship from the Cyprus Planning Bureau and obtained the MBA from the Cyprus University. She also holds the Master’s degree in Oriental Studies (1990–1995) as a graduate of the Tbilisi State University.

Tamar Mameishvili the Coordinator of Batumi Democracy School in Adjara, Georgia. Before she joined EECMD, Tamar worked as a Project Coordinator for the Institute of Democracy and as a Media Monitor for the Institute for Polling and Marketing. She also has an experience of working as an Editor of the website “Ajaranews.ge” and as a reporter at the newspaper “Batumelebi.”

Tamar Mameishvili holds a Master Degree in Journalism and Media Management from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). Her professional interests lay in covering News, theories of media management and public opinion surveys. She does her best to contribute to the development of democratic and tolerant community.

Tamta Jolokhava works as a program officer for the Democracy Education Program at the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy.

Tamta holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Tbilisi State University and a Master’s Degree in International Economic Relations from the University of Szeged, Hungary. During her BA years, she studied as an exchange student at Charles University in Prague, where she did an internship at the Embassy of Georgia to the Czech Republic.  She also held another internship at the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Tamta’s particular interests include EU policy and EU institutions, women’s participation in socio-political life and gender equality issues.