Human Rights Defender Natalia Leongardt Added to the List of Eco-Prisoners
- André Ejankour
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Natalia Leongardt, a human rights defender with 20 years of experience and a specialist in protecting the rights of Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, has been added to the list of eco-prisoners maintained by the Environmental Crisis Group.
On December 17, 2025, Natalia's home was searched, after which she was detained. The very next day, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow sent her to a pre-trial detention center. Leongardt is charged with involvement in the "Aborigen Forum" — an expert association of Indigenous representatives from 14 regions. In 2024, the association was declared extremist and later terrorist, after which it immediately announced its dissolution. Despite this, Natalia was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code — participation in the activities of a "terrorist organization."
Human rights defender and representative of the Selkup Indigenous people Daria Egereva is also being held in pre-trial detention in a similar case. Searches and interrogations were also conducted involving at least 15 other Indigenous representatives in the Murmansk, Kemerovo, and Tomsk regions, the Altai Republic, Altai Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Republic of Sakha, Khakassia, and St. Petersburg.
The international community of Indigenous activists and human rights organizations has expressed solidarity with Natalia and Daria through active actions. More than 100 human rights and environmental organizations from around the world have signed a joint statement demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
You can support Natalia by sending a letter to:
109383, Moscow, Shosseynaya St., 92, Pre-trial Detention Center No. 6 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in MoscowLeongardt Natalia Allanovna, born March 3, 1968
Electronic letters can be sent through the services "Zonatelecom," "F-letter," or PrisonMail.
The full list of eco-prisoners is available on the website of the Environmental Crisis Group.
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