From February 15 to 17, 2025, the national rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the countries of Central Asia. This is the world's largest and most prestigious moot court competition in international law. The competition simulates court proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a hypothetical dispute between states. The final round traditionally takes place in the spring in Washington, D.C. (USA), bringing together approximately 700 law schools from 100 countries.
This year, the national rounds in Bishkek gathered the strongest university teams from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, all competing for the right to represent their countries at the international finals.
For the second year in a row, the School of Law and Public Policy (SLPP) at Narxoz University has demonstrated outstanding results. In 2024, the team made its regional debut at the national rounds, securing second place in the final and winning the Best Memorial award, which allowed them to compete in Washington. In 2025, the newly formed team once again showed an exceptional level of preparation, finishing as the runner-up among the six strongest university teams in Kazakhstan.
The 2025 team was composed of students from the Jurisprudence program, who displayed remarkable legal expertise and competitive spirit:
Dinmukhammed Aktay, 4th year – team captain, recognized for his strategic thinking and strong leadership qualities. Following the competition, he received an interview invitation from a partner at the prestigious international law firm Kinstellar.
Polina Vershinina, 2nd year – made her Jessup debut, demonstrating excellent legal analysis and research skills, becoming one of the team’s key speakers.
Sofia Brova, 1st year – despite participating in her first competition, she showcased an impressive level of preparation and a persuasive argumentation style.
Dinmukhammed Aktay, 4th year – team captain, recognized for his strategic thinking and strong leadership qualities. Following the competition, he received an interview invitation from a partner at the prestigious international law firm Kinstellar.
Polina Vershinina, 2nd year – made her Jessup debut, demonstrating excellent legal analysis and research skills, becoming one of the team’s key speakers.
Sofia Brova, 1st year – despite participating in her first competition, she showcased an impressive level of preparation and a persuasive argumentation style.
The team was coached by experienced trainers – Askar Tazhanov and Svetlana Mironova, while SLPP senior lecturer Madi Kenzhaliev oversaw organizational coordination. Their dedication enabled students to unlock their potential and achieve remarkable results.
The participants demonstrated deep knowledge of international law, exceptional advocacy skills, and strong teamwork. The team secured three confident victories in the group stage, advancing to the final round. The final match was intensely competitive, with the outcome decided by a split decision from the judges. The team achieved an honorable second place, receiving high recognition from the judicial panel.
In addition to competing, the School of Law and Public Policy was also represented in the judging panel. It was a great honor for the university that Georgiy Rusanov, Associate Professor at Narxoz University, PhD, and Head of the Compliance Program, was invited to serve as a judge, officiating matches between teams from other Central Asian countries.
The SLPP team is committed to further developing their skills and enhancing their expertise to proudly represent Narxoz University at the Jessup competition next year