Interview at the United Nations: The Cases of Egereva and Leongardt Reflect Systemic Pressure on Indigenous Peoples in Russia

Photo: Dmitry Valuev

At the UN press center in New York, an interview was held with the support of Cultural Survival, featuring Pavel Sulyandziga, chair of the Batani Foundation, and Olga Kostrova, an activist from Russia and a representative of the Chulym people.

During the conversation, the participants focused on the cases of Daria Egereva and Natalya Leongardt, as well as on the broader trend of persecution of Indigenous human rights defenders in Russia.

The speakers described the events of December 2025, when the activists were detained. According to them, these cases became part of a wider campaign of pressure.

They pointed to an increase in searches and intimidation targeting Indigenous leaders in various regions, as well as a growing number of criminal cases against activists engaged in peaceful human rights work.

It was also emphasized that, despite the risks, activists continue their efforts to protect Indigenous languages, cultures, traditional ways of life, and ancestral lands.

The authors of the interview encourage readers to ознакомиться (consult) the full version of the conversation to hear directly the perspectives of Indigenous community representatives and their allies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=engpPs6G1S4