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Conference
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The BUD concept emerged from meetings in Ukraine with representatives of national universities. In this photo, Eric Putzig and Dean Anton Demchuk (first and second from left) meet with the Rector of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University in late February 2023, and later also meet with the leadership of Lutsk National Technical University. While Mr. Putzig created and taught various courses at both universities, he and Dean Demchuk developed programmatic ideas around the theme of democracy: thus, Build Ukraine Democracy was born. By September 2023, "BUD" was registered in Texas, USA and was granted 501c3 tax-exempt status by the U.S. government.
February 2023 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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The US Government granted BUD 501(c)3 status: All donations are tax deductible. Dean Anton Demchuk (BUD Senior Consultant) brings a wealth of experience in the field of law, university administration, and politics. His knowledge of local and national government and education is invaluable. Eric Putzig (BUD President) has lived outside the United States in 13 countries for 25 years typically managing US Government projects that develop institutions of law in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, East Timor, and others.
Septrmber 2023 - Washington, DC
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Dean Anton Demchuk (BUD Senior Consultant) and Eric Putzig (BUD President) regularly present various topics related to democracy and the Ukrainian fight for a free and just society. Both delivered presentations (investment and corruption, respectively) at a conference on law reform in Volyn Oblast, Ukraine.
September 2023 - Volyn Oblast, Ukraine
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As we continue our missions to create programs for the development of Ukrainian democracy in 2024, the BUD is consulting with universities and various government agencies. In October 2023, we had the honor of speaking with the Head of the Volyn Court of Appeal, Judge Viktor Gaponchuk.
October 2023 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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BUD was honored to meet with Ukrainian Parliament member Iryna Konstankevych, First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy. BUD regularly consults with universities and various government offices. L to R: People’s Deputy Iryna Konstankevych, BUD President Eric Putzig, BUD Senior Consultant Dean Anton Demchuk.
October 2023 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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BUD President Eric Putzig had a one-on-one meeting with a Ukrainian Prosecutor investigating Russian war crimes.
December 2023 - Kyiv, Ukraine
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In January of 2024 both Lutsk National Technical University and Volyn National University agreed, as they had in 2023, to continue to pool their students together, this time for the BUD course “Understanding Democracy”. It is a significant accomplishment that, under the auspices of BUD, both national universities participated in such "pooling" for the first time. Photos, clockwise from top left: (L to R) LNTU Department of Law Associate Professor Natalia Ryabykh Volodymyrivna, Associate Professor Pundor Yulia Olegivna, Associate Professor and Head of Department Anishchuk Viktoria Vasylivna; (L to R) LNTU Department of Law Associate Professor Natalia Ryabykh Volodymyrivna, VNU Dean of Law Faculty and BUD Senior Consultant and Co-Founder Demchuk Anton Mykhailovych; BUD President Eric James Graham Putzig discussing democracy; BUD President Eric James Graham Putzig taking questions from students.
February 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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Local and regional representatives of government, police, civil society organizations, psychologists, social workers, and others gathered at Lutsk National Technical University for the purposes of addressing the pressing issue of domestic violence. BUD President Eric James Graham Putzig presented his experience abroad, focusing on his five years in Afghanistan, and laid out a basic blueprint for developing a multi-faceted approach for realizing a reduction in domestic violence.
April 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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BUD was honored to present at a conference tackling the difficulties of state building during a time of war in Ukraine. Esteemed presenters included LNTU Rector Iryna Vakhovich, Supreme Council of Justice member Oksana Kvasha, and Constitutional Court Judge Petro Filyuk. Held at Lustk National Technical University participants from a variety of countries joined online.
May 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
BUD participated in a USAID evaluation of Volyn National University’s Law Faculty. The five-month process began with an interview in May and culminated in presentation of the findings in September.
Summer & Fall 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
BUD President Eric Putzig was recognized by the “Unbreakable Law Schools of Ukraine” organization, representing Ukraine’s top legal educational institutions, for his participation in development of legal education and the education of Ukraine’s next generation.
September 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
BUD participated in the International Legal Systems Reform Conference. The conference brought together legal scholars and scientists in Ukraine, Poland, and Great Britain. The event was chaired by VNU Law Faculty Dean and BUD Co-Founder Anton Demchuk, and BUD President Eric Putzig delivered a presentation on the impact of GDP on law reform through the lense of EIU’s Democracy Index.
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September 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
BUD Co-Founders Dean Anton Demchuk and Eric Putzig presented at a human rights conference sponsored by UNDP, Japan, Denmark, and others. The conference, "Problems of Ensuring Human Rights and Freedoms" coincided with global Human Rights Day, which occurs every year on December 10th.
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December 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
Members of the National Parliament's Research Service met with BUD President Eric Putzig to discuss current trends in legislation as a result of Russia's invasion.
December 2024 - Lutsk, Ukraine
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