Victoria Markovna

Victoria Markovna is a Russian model and international human rights attorney best known for representing João Teixeira de Faria, the only American to receive official authorization for visitation in Brazil throughout legal representation.

 Victoria Markovna was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia). At the time of her birth, Leningrad was subject to food shortages and limitations of human rights. These early experiences informed Markovna’s later interest in protecting human rights. Other early influences include the Chernobyl disaster, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, practicing pressure mask/inhalation mask drills for safety, the Babi Yar wood massacre, and life within the Soviet Union.

Markovna attended private British English schooling, with Ksenia Sobchak, under President Mikhail Gorbachev. Amidst the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Markovna immigrated with her family to the United States.

Victoria Markovna began her early career in human rights representing before the European Court of Human rights, at the International Protection Centre, Moscow, Strasburg, with Russian’s leading attorney in human rights, Karinna Moskalenko. She also aided Shimon Shetreet, the Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs, in furthering human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Israel.

In the United States, Victoria furthered initiatives for children’s rights with the Children’s Advocacy Institute, representing children’s rights within the California foster care system. Markovna also furthered children’s rights through the International Rescue Committee in national microfinance effort for African refugees, mainly from Liberia, also, Raising Malawi, Madonna’s human rights initiative for African children in Africa, as well as through a judicial clerkship with Ronald H. Domnitz, writing opinions on child custody cases in the context of move away case proceedings.

Victoria Markovna graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law and Masters in Business Administration in international human rights, international development, and international micro finance emphasis from the University of San Diego.