Mariana Katzarova’s Mandate Renewed: What It Means for Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt
Updated: 5 days ago
On 6 October 2026, the UN Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia for another year. The role is held by Mariana Katzarova, who, together with other UN experts, has already raised the prosecution of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt with the Russian authorities.
Twenty-one countries voted in favour, five opposed the resolution, and 21 abstained. The Council requested that the Special Rapporteur continue consultations with Indigenous Peoples and civil society inside and outside Russia. For our campaign, this has direct significance: it preserves a channel for submitting information about the case to an independent UN expert and seeking continued international attention.
Attention to the Case Has Already Led to Concrete Action
On 7 April 2026, Katzarova and representatives of nine other UN Special Procedures mandates sent a joint communication to the Russian authorities concerning Daria and Natalia. It detailed the circumstances of their arrests, the charges against them, and the experts’ concerns about both women’s prosecution. It specifically noted that Daria’s prosecution might constitute reprisals for her cooperation with the UN. The signatories included experts on Indigenous Peoples’ rights, arbitrary detention, human rights defenders, climate change and the environment.
This connection is important to understanding the case. Daria participated in international climate negotiations and represented Indigenous Peoples’ interests. Natalia helped Indigenous representatives take part in human rights and international processes. Their imprisonment also affects the communities they served: people lose experienced colleagues who know how to bring their concerns to international institutions.
Katzarova’s country mandate allows such cases to be examined within the broader situation in Russia, including the use of counter-terrorism legislation, pressure on independent associations and restrictions on human rights work. Preserving this mechanism therefore matters to those seeking both women’s release.
Daria and Natalia’s Case Helped Make the Argument for Renewal
In a joint letter dated 4 September 2026, international human rights organisations urged governments to support the mandate’s renewal. Among the examples of escalating repression, they cited Daria and Natalia’s detention on terrorism charges linked, in the organisations’ assessment, to their peaceful work defending Indigenous rights.
The letter was signed by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, FIDH, OMCT, the International Service for Human Rights, Human Rights House Foundation and other organisations. The two women’s case thus became directly connected to the discussion about why independent scrutiny of Russia must continue.
What This Means for the Solidarity Campaign
The Special Rapporteur can request explanations from the authorities, analyse information received and bring her findings to international attention. Renewing the mandate, however, does not itself overturn court decisions or secure anyone’s release.
For the campaign, its practical value lies in the opportunity to continue this work: reporting new hearings and court decisions, documenting detention conditions and obstacles faced by the defence, and submitting verified information about both women’s situation. International appeals carry weight when they are supported by accurate, consistently documented information.
The renewal also preserves a basis for diplomatic action. Governments and international organisations can draw on UN experts’ documents when raising Daria and Natalia’s release with the Russian authorities.
Mariana Katzarova’s attention to their case has already become part of this work. Her mandate has now been renewed for another year. For us, this is an opportunity to keep working towards a concrete outcome: freedom for Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.
Daria and Natalia must be free!
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