“A Crime to Be Indigenous”: Report on Repression Presented at the United Nations
- André Ejankour
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
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 document was prepared by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Development and Solidarity Foundation “Batani”, the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia, and lawyer Olga Podoplelova.
The report examines the situation of activists, journalists, public figures, and human rights defenders from Indigenous communities who publicly defend the rights of their peoples. Their activities include the protection of traditional lands, cultural practices, languages, and the environment, as well as opposition to industrial exploitation and legislative initiatives that threaten the survival of these peoples. Due to their public position, such leaders are increasingly becoming targets of persecution.
Particular attention in the report is given to the vulnerability of Indigenous small-numbered peoples, who, unlike titular ethnic groups in national republics, possess limited demographic, institutional, and media resources. Under these conditions, even targeted pressure on individual activists leads to serious consequences for entire communities—loss of representation, weakening of cultural transmission, and increased marginalization.
The study is based on an analysis of open sources, including court decisions, publications by human rights organizations, and materials from independent media, as well as verified information obtained through direct interaction with affected individuals. At the same time, the authors emphasize that the full scale of repression remains inaccessible due to the lack of official statistics, censorship, and fear of persecution.
The report covers the period since 2019 and identifies a sustained trend of systemic pressure on representatives of Indigenous peoples. It notes that by that time, the dismantling of independent human rights infrastructure had begun through the mechanisms of “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations” legislation.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the situation sharply deteriorated. Repression took on a systemic character and spread across the full spectrum of Indigenous activism—from local initiatives to international advocacy. While earlier pressure had been limited to administrative measures, the use of criminal legislation subsequently intensified, including provisions related to “military censorship.”
By 2025, as emphasized in the report, there was a transition toward the targeted criminalization of Indigenous communities as such. Authorities began widely using anti-extremism and counterterrorism legislation, arbitrarily linking independent Indigenous activity to allegedly existing “separatist” and “terrorist” structures.
A key role in this process was played by decisions of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. In June 2024, a non-existent “Anti-Russian separatist movement” was declared extremist, to which dozens of Indigenous organizations were attributed, including the Aborigen Forum and the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR). In November 2024, the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum was declared a terrorist organization, and more than 170 entities—including activist networks and cultural initiatives—were included in the list of its “subdivisions.”
In December 2025, this led to mass searches and detentions of at least 17 activists across various regions of Russia, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In particular, Daria Egereva and Natalya Leongardt were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention; they face up to 20 years in prison on charges of participation in a terrorist organization.
The authors of the report conclude that, as a result of these processes, Indigenous human rights activity in Russia has effectively been placed outside the law. Many activists have been forced to leave the country, go underground, or cease public activity. This has led to entire peoples being left without representation and voice both domestically and in the international arena.
The report not only documents specific cases of persecution but also analyzes systemic mechanisms of pressure. Particular attention is given to the “Aborigen Forum” case as the most illustrative example of the comprehensive use of repressive tools.
The document, presented at the UN platform, underscores the need for international attention to the situation of Indigenous rights in Russia and calls for strengthening mechanisms for their protection.
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