From COP17 to Write for Rights: Amnesty International Amplifies Calls to Free Daria Egereva
Updated: 3 hours ago
Amnesty International is bringing Daria Egereva’s case to audiences across several countries, connecting her imprisonment with Indigenous Peoples’ rights, climate justice and the freedom to participate in international environmental negotiations.
Recent publications include a global explainer on biodiversity negotiations and national appeals inviting supporters to demand her release. These initiatives provide several ways to turn international attention into action.
A Missing Indigenous Voice at COP17
In its 22 October explainer on the Convention on Biological Diversity, Amnesty International names Daria in a discussion of the barriers facing Indigenous Peoples and civil society at UN conferences.
The organization recalls her participation in biodiversity meetings and explains that she cannot attend this year because she has been imprisoned over her peaceful Indigenous rights work.
The reference places her absence within a wider question facing COP17: can biodiversity negotiations offer meaningful participation when people who helped bring Indigenous perspectives into those processes are deprived of their freedom?
Write for Rights: Bringing Daria’s Story to New Audiences
On 20 October, Amnesty International Ireland published a dedicated appeal featuring Daria in its Write for Rights 2026/27 campaign.
The appeal introduces her as a Selkup Indigenous rights defender and climate advocate whose work has focused on protecting Indigenous lands, languages and cultures. It also presents the person behind the campaign: a teacher by training, remembered by friends for her warmth and compassion, with a lifelong connection to the Siberian taiga.
Amnesty calls for her immediate and unconditional release and an end to the repression of Indigenous activists exercising their rights in Russia.
Appeals Across Countries and Languages
Amnesty International France launched its petition on 21 October, connecting Daria’s prosecution with the broader use of extremism and terrorism accusations to silence independent voices. It calls for her release, the withdrawal of the charges and an end to the persecution of peaceful Indigenous rights defenders.
A French-language appeal from Amnesty International Belgium, launched on 15 October, makes the same demand.
Amnesty International Slovakia published a Write for Rights article about Daria on 21 October. Its Slovak-language petition, launched on 13 October, calls for her immediate and unconditional release and an end to repression against Indigenous activists exercising their rights in Russia.
Together, these pages make her story accessible across languages and offer supporters practical opportunities to act.
Video Appeals Reach International and US Audiences
Amnesty International’s global YouTube channel premiered Russia: Daria Protected Her People, Now This Is Her “Crime” on 19 October. The video appeal presents her peaceful work defending Indigenous lands, languages and cultures and directs supporters to a petition calling for her release.
On 24 October, Amnesty International USA published its Write for Rights video about Daria. It includes a personal message from her colleague Valentina Sovkina, recalling their connection with nature and expressing solidarity with Daria and other Indigenous rights defenders facing persecution. The message emphasizes that Daria is not alone and that her colleagues will continue to speak out.
Amnesty Italia Brings Daria’s Case to Italian-Speaking Supporters
In a 17 October post on X, Amnesty International Italia included Daria among five people featured in its campaign appeal, alongside people from Egypt, Hong Kong, El Salvador and Mali. This outreach places her case within an international campaign inviting people across countries to act for individuals whose rights are under threat.
Keeping Both Daria and Natalia in View
The Amnesty materials highlighted here focus on Daria. Our campaign also continues to call for the release of Natalia Leongardt, detained alongside her in December 2025.
Both women helped sustain Indigenous participation in international processes. As their colleagues gather at COP17, public attention must continue to connect the protection of nature with the protection of the people defending Indigenous rights.
Supporters can follow the Amnesty appeals linked above, share verified information and visit our website to find ways to write to Daria and Natalia.
International solidarity matters when it becomes sustained action for their freedom.
Daria and Natalia must be Free!
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