On April 25–26, the Second Global Indigenous Peacebuilding Summit took place in New York, held alongside the session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The event brought together more than 150 Indigenous representatives from dozens of countries — including community leaders, women, youth, mediators, and human rights defenders. Its main goal was to strengthen the role of Indigenous peoples in global processes of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. P

The Moscow City Court has upheld the extension of pre-trial detention for Daria Egereva and Natalya Leongardt, who are accused of participating in a terrorist organization.

“The use of criminal law has become a tool to suppress lawful activism.”

Participants presented reports to Mariana Katzarova on systemic human rights violations in Russia, including the persecution of activists, pressure on civil society, and restrictions on freedom of expression.

First, he addressed how Russia uses the Forum. In recent years, positive narratives about companies like Nornickel were presented with the support of the government and RAIPON. In reality, communities remain without basic services and face displacement.

During the conversation, the participants focused on the cases of Daria Egereva and Natalya Leongardt, as well as on the broader trend of persecution of Indigenous human rights defenders in Russia.

At the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York on April 22, a report titled “A Crime to Be Indigenous” was presented, focusing on the analysis of repression and pressure by Russian authorities against leaders of Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East.

The lawyer also notes that defenders of Indigenous rights have always been "inconvenient" not only for officials and law enforcement.

Indigenous leaders engaged in international mechanisms are increasingly facing risks — from pressure to criminal charges. This creates a situation where participation in global dialogue becomes unsafe.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and 104 other human rights organisations have joined the call for the immediate release of Indigenous climate leader Daria Egereva and human rights defender Natalia Leongardt, held in pre-trial detention in Russia under unfounded charges of terrorism since December 2025.

More than 100 international organizations, gathered at the United Nations, have called for the immediate release of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt from a Russian prison. At the same time, over 70 Indigenous organizations and their allies addressed Vladimir Putin directly, stating: “Speaking out is not a crime!”

Indigenous peoples around the world are expressing their solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of Russia in their struggle for their rights.

Against the backdrop of the opening of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on April 21, the issue of persecution of Indigenous rights defenders from Russia is gaining a new level of international attention. This year, activist Daria Egereva, a representative of the Selkup people of Siberia, was expected to participate in the forum—but instead of New York, she remains in pre-trial detention. Alongside her, human rights advocate Natalia Leongardt is also bei

Daria Egereva was supposed to be in New York next week. The Indigenous Selkup climate advocate was expected to return to the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where two years ago she spoke about how Indigenous peoples are confronting environmental degradation and climate change. Instead, this year she is in a Russian jail, facing up to 20 years in prison on terrorism charges.

The Moscow City Court has scheduled a hearing to consider appeals against the extension of pre-trial detention for Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.

UN Special Rapporteurs on Thursday condemned an ongoing strategy by Russian authorities to silence dissent, human rights advocacy, and anti-war expression. They warned that this represents a “systematic dismantling” of civil society under the guise of protecting national security and public safety.

A Russian court has remanded a second Indigenous rights defender in custody as part of a widening case linked to the banned activist network known as the ‘Aborigen Forum’. Natalya Leongardt, a 58-year-old specialist on the rights of Indigenous peoples in Russia’s North, Siberia and Far East, was detained on Dec. 17, 2025, and ordered into pre-trial detention the following day by Moscow’s Basmanny District Court, according to rights organizations and media reports.

It has now become known that Daria Egereva is not the only woman held in pre-trial detention following the large-scale raids and arrests carried out on 17 December 2025. Alongside her remains another activist — Natalia Leongardt.

We invite all Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, NGOs, and allies across civil society to sign this petition calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, who are arbitrarily detained for their peaceful, lawful engagement in Indigenous rights and international advocacy.

UN experts have stated that Russian authorities are systematically abusing anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation to suppress civil society, human rights activities, and anti-war expression.