International law is not a menu!

At the discussion “Voices of Indigenous Peoples Against Repression by the Russian Authorities,” held on March 3, 2026, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Sámi activist and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Valentina Sovkina, spoke about systemic pressure on Indigenous representatives in Russia.

In her statement, she emphasized that when the principle that the state should serve the people is violated, Indigenous communities are the first to feel it — through the loss of their voice, land, and participation in decision-making.

Sovkina drew attention to the gap between international commitments and actual practice. According to her, the formal recognition of rights without their real implementation amounts to a simulation of compliance with international law. She noted that it is impossible to recognize cultural rights while ignoring land rights, or to speak of participation while excluding Indigenous peoples from decision-making processes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG2lnZt1cfA

The activist also addressed the events of December 2025, when searches, detentions, and arrests of Indigenous representatives took place in several regions of Russia. She described these actions as attempts at intimidation in response to peaceful environmental, cultural, and human rights activities. According to Sovkina, she herself was forced to speak remotely due to restrictions on her freedom of movement resulting from these events.

Her statement also expressed concern about the growing atmosphere of fear. As she noted, peaceful advocacy for rights is increasingly being interpreted as a security threat, while engagement with international mechanisms is seen as hostile action. In her view, this leads to the silencing of issues, the erosion of trust, and increased social tension.

Sovkina stressed that Indigenous peoples are not a political opposition, but rather an integral part of society and bearers of unique knowledge about natural ecosystems.

Their exclusion from decision-making, she argued, leads to environmental crises and long-term instability.