Daria Egereva could not attend the UN biodiversity conference COP17 in Yerevan. Yet a place was kept for her at both a plenary meeting and the Indigenous Peoples’ caucus. Participants joined solidarity actions, wore campaign T-shirts and spoke about her and Natalia Leongardt. Daria’s portrait also appeared on a collective mural.

As attention turns to COP31, we revisit an example of international solidarity from June. On 9 June 2026, the Nigerian environmental outlet EnviroNews Nigeria reported on their absence from the UN climate talks in Bonn, bringing their story to readers far beyond Russia.

Collage using a photograph by Denis Kostrov. Amnesty International’s campaign for Daria Egereva’s freedom continues across countries and languages. Initiatives in Taiwan and Canada invite more people to learn about the Selkup Indigenous rights defender and take action for her release. Taiwan: An Appeal in Chinese Amnesty International Taiwan’s Write for Rights 2026 page presents Daria’s story in Traditional Chinese. It describes her peaceful work protecting Indigenous lands,

At the UN Human Rights Council, a call to free Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt raised a wider question: who chooses Indigenous representatives, and can independent voices speak without fear of persecution?

A video of the silent COP17 protest makes absent voices visible. Our analysis asks what meaningful representation means while Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt remain in detention.

19–25 October 2026: an empty chair, a silent protest and international appeals at COP17 highlight Daria and Natalia’s absence and the growing campaign for their freedom.

LRC’s Instagram reel documents the silent protest at COP17 and calls attention to consent, justice and accountability for Indigenous and environmental defenders.

Valentina Sovkina shares the campaign’s message about Daria and Natalia’s absence from COP17 and links readers to our website.

L’Humanité profiles Daria Egereva’s Indigenous and climate advocacy and highlights Amnesty International’s call for her release.

At the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), currently taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, a dispute has emerged over the principles of Indigenous Peoples’ representation in international processes. According to Indigenous Russia, the Russian delegation has opposed extending the system of seven Indigenous sociocultural regions to all mechanisms under the Convention. Behind this seemingly procedural issue lies a much deeper question

Send Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt a message of solidarity. Find the writing guidelines and a separate form for each woman on our website.

South African lawyer Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has received the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work advancing peace and international law.

On 8 October 2026, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) published a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment. It was prepared to inform her forthcoming report to the 64th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

A review of Yana Tannagasheva and Olga Kostrova’s Swissinfo opinion piece.

Amnesty International Canada shares a video letter from Sámi activist Valentina Sovkina to Daria Egereva, recalling their meetings, the sound of wind and the cloudberries they shared.

Russian Indigenous rights defender Daria Egereva, held in a Moscow pre-trial detention centre, has commented for the first time on her nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Her words were reported by the Norwegian outlet NRK Sápmi, which managed to reach Egereva through an international support group.

Photo provided by the author. A speech never delivered at EMRIP, and a question that remains relevant Russia regularly raises the issue of violations of Indigenous rights in other states on international platforms. However, far less often can one hear in official Russian statements about the problems faced by Indigenous peoples within the Russian Federation itself. This contrast is especially visible at United Nations platforms. On 23 September 2026, at the 63rd session of th

On 2 October 2026, the names of two Indigenous women human rights defenders from Russia were heard in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Estonia explicitly called their detention arbitrary and the charges unfounded.

The Environmental Crisis Group reports that Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt will remain in pre-trial detention until 9 December 2026 and invites supporters to send letters to both women.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has published a LinkedIn post about Daria Egereva’s nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The organization highlights the connection between Indigenous Peoples’ rights, climate action, traditional knowledge, and meaningful community participation in decision-making.