"It was not in vain": Daria Egereva thanked the international community for its support

Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt have been in pre-trial detention for over six months. Both were arrested on December 17, 2025, during a wave of raids on Indigenous activists and representatives. They have been charged with participation in a terrorist organization. Human rights groups and international organizations have repeatedly stated that the prosecution is politically motivated and have called for their release.

We received a letter from Daria Egereva forwarded by a person who corresponds with her from the pre-trial detention center. In the letter, Daria shares her emotions after the International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change decided to extend her mandate as Vice-Chair, as well as after the UN Special Rapporteurs' appeal regarding her criminal prosecution.

"I am very moved by the Forum's decision and, as always, I cried. I thought about the SBSTA, about how they gathered, how they prepared the statement — did they make a statement at the Permanent Forum? I thank each and every one for their solidarity, as well as the Special Rapporteurs — those I know personally, and I am very grateful to all the others.

…In one of your letters, you wrote that "it was not in vain." Perhaps this was indeed necessary for the international movement at the UN to understand the full meaning of their work, why they are there, and why such a thing can happen…" — Daria writes.

Let us recall that the International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change decided to retain Daria Egereva's status as Vice-Chair despite her detention. Earlier, UN Special Rapporteurs also sent a formal request to the Russian authorities regarding the criminal prosecution of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.

You can support Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt and send them letters through our website: https://www.daria-egereva.org/

*SBSTA – Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

IR