Dr Nemirovskaya is a former art historian. In the late 1980s her kitchen became a “salon” for intellectuals concerned about the future development of Russia. In 1992 she co-created the School of Civic Education (Moscow School of Political Studies then). The School then developed into one of the foremost institutions in the field of civic society and civic freedoms. Drawing deeply on its sustained links with academic and scientific institutions and think tanks, it managed to bring the best in world experience to Russia and to expose over 25 thousand Russians to European traditions of democratic development and civic engagement. The ideas and understanding gained at SCE seminars are being shared and implemented throughout the wider region as empowered young leaders apply and disseminate knowledge, information and progressive ideas around them. Named a foreign agent by the Undesirable Organizations of the Russian government in 2014, the Moscow School now operates from abroad.