Daria Egereva’s Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Draws Attention to the Persecution of Indigenous Rights Activists
An APTN News report looks at the cases of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, two Russian human rights defenders who advocated for Indigenous Peoples’ rights. They were detained in Moscow on December 17, 2025, and accused of participating in an organization designated as terrorist by the Russian authorities. The case drew international attention after Egereva was nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Egereva is a member of the Selkup Indigenous people and an activist who has worked on Indigenous rights and climate issues at international forums. Her nomination was put forward by James Anaya, a former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Øyvind Ravna, a professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Ravna said the nomination aims to draw attention to the situation of Indigenous Peoples and climate activists, as well as pressure on civil society in Russia.
In the APTN News report, correspondent Angel Moore covers the activists’ detentions and Egereva’s nomination. Egereva’s lawyer, Olga Podoplelova, comments on the criminal case and the prosecution of her client. Sámi rights advocate Valentina Sovkina speaks about pressure on Indigenous activists and draws attention to the cases of Egereva and Leongardt.
The report presents the two women’s cases as part of a wider issue: the impact of activists’ persecution on the communities they represent.
Free Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt!
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