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An English-language Wikipedia article dedicated to the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) now includes a separate section on Daria Egereva, the Forum’s co-chair, a member of the Selkup people and an Indigenous rights defender currently detained in Russia.

German investigative outlet CORRECTIV has published an investigation into the growing repression of Indigenous rights activists in Russia, focusing on the cases of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt and the criminalization of the “Aborigen Forum.”

Today, Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt remain behind bars — people who spent years defending the interests of Indigenous communities and working for their future. Instead of recognition for this work, they are being held in pre-trial detention, accused of “participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.” They face between 10 and 20 years in prison.

9 August — The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This edition of the Bulletin contains a selection of articles on the struggle for the rights of indigenous peoples living in Russia

A day for all indigenous peoples: their languages, their lands, their knowledge, their right to decide their own destiny. Daria Egereva and Natalia Leonhardt should be celebrating it with their communities. Instead, they are in custody for their work, which has always been peaceful.

On August 5, the Moscow City Court dismissed the appeals against the Basmanny District Court's ruling extending the pre-trial detention of Indigenous rights defenders Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt. As a result, they will remain in custody until at least September 15, 2026.

For more than seven months, Indigenous leaders, human rights defenders, environmental activists, and allies around the world have been speaking out in support of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.

On the anniversary of the historic prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries on August 1, 2024, the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) called for intensified international efforts to secure the release of Indigenous rights defenders Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt. “Indigenous rights defenders Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt have been detained in Russia since December 17, 2025, and are accused of alleged terrorism. The women are innocent, the

On June 11, a Moscow court extended the pre-trial detention of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt until September 15, 2026. Next week, the Moscow City Court will hear the defense's appeals against that decision. Please come and support Daria and Natalia! Your presence in the courtroom matters. Both Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt will participate in the hearing via video conference from the detention center. 📅 August 5, 2026 (Wednesday)🕚 11:40 a.m.📍 Moscow City Court

During the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, Indigenous representatives from Russia held a second solidarity action in front of the Palais des Nations, calling on the international community to secure the release of Daria Egereva, Natalia Leongardt, and other Indigenous activists facing politically motivated persecution.

The 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), held in Geneva, was not merely a platform for discussing Indigenous rights. It revealed the existence of two fundamentally different approaches to understanding what the protection of these rights means in contemporary Russia.

Natalia Leongardt, a human rights defender with 20 years of experience and a specialist in protecting the rights of Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, has been added to the list of eco-prisoners maintained by the Environmental Crisis Group.

During the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), a side event titled "Protecting Territories, Protecting Defenders: The Role of Documentation and Indigenous Data Sovereignty" brought together Indigenous leaders, experts, and representatives of international organizations. Participants discussed how documentation of violations and data sovereignty help protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and those who advocate for them.

On July 15, in Geneva, during the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), participants discussed agenda item 9 — "Enhancing the participation of Indigenous peoples in the activities of the United Nations." Within the framework of the discussion, independent Indigenous representatives from Russia stated that Indigenous participation in the work of UN bodies should not depend on state recognition or official status.

During the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, participants discussed preparations for the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which will be observed in 2027. Independent Indigenous representatives from Russia stated that the anniversary of the Declaration should not only be an occasion for taking stock but also an opportunity to draw attention to ongoing violations of Indigenou

A number of countries, armed conflicts are accompanied by intensified repression against Indigenous representatives, restrictions on civil liberties, and persecution of those cooperating with UN mechanisms.

During the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, a meeting took place between Indigenous representatives from seven sociocultural regions of the world and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Delegates spoke about the most pressing issues facing Indigenous peoples in their regions.

On July 15, during the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, an interactive dialogue took place under agenda item 5, dedicated to the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The discussion was attended by UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Albert Kwokwo Barume, representatives of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peo

On the square in front of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Indigenous activists from Russia held a solidarity action in support of imprisoned human rights defenders Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, as well as an information campaign dedicated to the ongoing repression against independent Indigenous leaders in Russia.

During the discussion of agenda item 3 of the 19th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), dedicated to the rights of Indigenous peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations, Indigenous representatives from Russia spoke about the disproportionate impact of war and political repression on Indigenous peoples and called on the UN to strengthen its attention to these issues.