"No Climate Justice Without Human Rights": Solidarity Action for Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt Held in Bonn
- André Ejankour
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
On June 16, during the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (SB64), human rights defenders, Indigenous representatives, and environmental activists held an international action, "Defending the Defenders." Participants demanded the release of environmental and human rights activists facing persecution in various countries around the world.
One of the central stories of the action was the case of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt.
Organizers reminded conference participants that Daria Egereva, a representative of the Selkup people, co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), and Indigenous rights defender, has been held in custody in Russia since December 2025. Alongside her, Natalia Leongardt, who for many years worked to support and protect Indigenous rights, was also arrested.
During the action, it was stated that Daria faces up to 20 years in prison for her peaceful human rights and climate activities, including her participation in international UN climate processes. Organizers emphasized that her work was connected to the protection of Indigenous lands, languages, and culture.
"We insist on their immediate and unconditional release," the demands rang out at the action.
Notably, the story of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leonhardt opened the entire program of the event. Among other heroes of the action were human rights defenders and environmental activists from Turkey, India, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Palestine, and Canada.
Action organizers stated that the persecution of human rights defenders directly affects society's ability to respond to the climate crisis. In their view, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to peaceful protest are necessary conditions for achieving climate justice.
The event's main slogan was:
"No climate justice without human rights."
The action took place against the backdrop of growing international attention to the case of Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt. Earlier, ten UN special procedures sent a joint communication to the Russian government, expressing concern over the criminal prosecution of the two human rights defenders and possible reprisals against Indigenous representatives participating in international UN mechanisms.
For many participants of the Bonn conference, Daria Egereva's story has become a symbol of a broader issue — the safety of environmental and human rights activists who protect the rights of their peoples and participate in global climate processes.
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