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

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.

On 16 September, UN News wrote about a new report by the UN Secretary-General on reprisals against people who cooperate with the Organization on human rights. The document covers the period from 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026 and highlights cases from 32 States. The victims include human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, trade unionists and victims of rights violations. All of them were targeted for cooperating, or seeking to cooperate, with the UN.

On September 24, Yana Tannagasheva, a representative of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), addressed the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Her statement was delivered during an interactive dialogue with the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) under agenda items 3 and 5. The main focus of her statement was the connection between historical injustice against Indigenous Peoples in Russia and the c

The discussion at the UN Human Rights Council was specifically devoted to the rights of Indigenous women and girls. The Russian delegation used the discussion to draw attention to violations in other countries and the consequences of Western colonial policies, while not mentioning the problems faced by Indigenous women in Russia that have already been brought before UN mechanisms.

At the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, German representative Nikola Gillhoff spoke during a discussion of the UN Secretary-General’s report on intimidation and reprisals against individuals cooperating with the United Nations.

Today (September, 22), a UN expert warned that the Russian Federation has established a state system of surveillance, intimidation, and punishment targeting its critics abroad, as well as pressure on their families in Russia. She described Russia’s transnational repression as a violation of international law that threatens the sovereignty of host states and must be brought to an end.

Indigenous rights defenders are among the groups mentioned in the materials of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia Mariana Katzarova concerning the Russian Federation’s transnational repression.

On September 9, the Human Rights House Foundation published a joint appeal by international human rights organizations calling for the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia. The document itself is dated September 4.

At its 19th annual session (13–17 July 2026), the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) presented a draft study and advice concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations.

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.

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