Bach Avezdjanov is the Program Officer for Columbia Global Freedom of Expression, where he largely focuses on research and analysis of legal trends related to freedom of expression in Russia and Central Asia.

Prior to joining the initiative, Bach served as an Assistant Protection Officer with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kassala, Sudan, a city on the border with Eritrea. There, he monitored violations of refugee rights and designed appropriate responses. He has also worked in Kyrgyzstan for Freedom House, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Tian Shan Policy Center at the American University of Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, he largely contributed to efforts to prevent torture by police, and also helped strengthen public assembly rights, religious freedoms, minority rights, and women’s rights.

Bach holds a law degree from the Boston University School of Law and is fluent in Russian.