Diplomats, Press, and Families Denied Access to Hearing in Case of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt

Judge T.S. Vakhrameev of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow has extended the pre-trial detention of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.

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 Leongardt.

Today, June 11, the hearing was scheduled for 5:45 PM. According to those present, access was denied on the grounds that the court's working day had ended. As a result, close relatives of the defendants, journalists, and international observers were unable to attend the proceedings.

Among those who arrived for the hearing were representatives of the diplomatic missions of Norway, Germany, Poland, and Sweden. According to information from the Delegation of the European Union, diplomats were not granted access to the courtroom.

Human rights defenders note that scheduling the hearing for late in the evening and subsequently restricting public access raises serious questions regarding compliance with the principle of transparency in judicial proceedings.

Particular concern is raised by the situation of the defendants themselves. Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt have not been able to communicate with their families since their detention on December 17, 2025. For nearly six months, relatives have been denied the opportunity to see their loved ones in person or receive any information about their condition.

The case of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt continues to attract the attention of human rights organizations, indigenous representatives, and the international community. Earlier, UN experts, international indigenous organizations, and environmental human rights defenders called for the activists' release. They have also emphasized the need to uphold procedural guarantees, including the openness of judicial proceedings, the right to a fair trial, and the right of defendants to communicate with their families.

IR