On December 17, 2025, searches and interrogations of Indigenous activists took place in several regions of Russia. On that day, Daria Egereva — a defender of the rights of the Selkup Indigenous people and co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change — as well as Natalia Leonhardt, a long-time advocate and defender of Indigenous rights, were detained. Both women were arrested and placed in custody.

On June 16, during the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (SB64), human rights defenders, Indigenous representatives, and environmental activists held an international action, "Defending the Defenders." Participants demanded the release of environmental and human rights activists facing persecution in various countries around the world.

On 6 June 2026, a communication addressed to the Russian government concerning the case of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt was made public. The document was submitted by ten UN Special Procedures mandate holders. Such communications are published 60 days after being sent, regardless of whether the government concerned has responded.

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has criticized the deliberate isolation of human rights activists Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, who have been detained in Russia for six months.

Judge T.S. Vakhrameev of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow has extended the pre-trial detention of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leonhardt. Family members, media representatives, and diplomatic staff were not permitted to attend the latest court hearing in the case of indigenous activists Daria Egereva and Natalia Leonhardt.

he arrest of Selkup activist Daria Egereva and human rights defender Natalia Leonhardt has generated widespread international resonance. Over the past months, dozens of media outlets in Europe, North America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as specialized environmental and human rights publications, have reported on their case.

At the 64th session of the subsidiary bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB64), taking place in Bonn, the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change issued a statement in support of Selkup activist Daria Egereva and called on the Russian authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally.

From June 8 to 18, 2026, the 64th session of the subsidiary bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB64) is taking place in Bonn, Germany.

As DW notes, the criminal case is based on a court ruling that declared the “Aborigen Forum” to be a subdivision of the “Forum of Free States of Post-Russia,” which had previously been designated as a terrorist organization. At the same time, the community itself had spent years engaged in human rights, environmental, and educational work, while its members spoke at UN platforms and cooperated with international organizations.

The cases of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt are increasingly becoming part of a global conversation about Indigenous rights and the crackdown on civil society in Russia. One of the latest indicators of this growing international attention is the creation of a Spanish-language Wikipedia entry for Daria Egereva. While seemingly symbolic, the article carries practical weight: it makes information about the case accessible to hundreds of millions of Spanish-speaking readers

Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, who are charged with participation in a "terrorist organization" for their work protecting Indigenous rights, have become the subjects of a book published as part of the project Resistance Imprisoned.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has sent an official communication to the Russian authorities concerning new laws and practices that severely restrict the rights of indigenous peoples.

The situation has taken on a symbolic dimension: at the very moment when the state officially emphasizes recognition of Indigenous peoples, their representatives and defenders are facing criminal prosecution.

An exhibition with the striking title “Resistance Behind Bars” has opened in Strasbourg. It is not just an art display, but an attempt to give a voice to those who have been deprived of their freedom — and of the right to be heard.

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.

At the 25th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, one of the key topics was the health of Indigenous peoples, including in the context of ongoing conflicts. A strong and emotional statement was delivered by Pavel Sulyandziga, President of the Batani Foundation for Indigenous Peoples’ Development and Solidarity. He spoke of a deep crisis — particularly in the area of mental health affecting entire communities. “Physical health is important, but me