Political Persecution of Indigenous Human Rights Defenders in Russia

Court Extends Detention for Daria Egereva – STP Calls for Her Release

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“The charges against Daria Egereva are politically motivated. Their aim is to criminalize her legitimate human rights work. We demand her immediate release,” says Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP. “Egereva has been advocating for indigenous rights, language, and culture for decades. Her detention is an attack on the indigenous movement in Russia.”

Egereva was arrested on December 17, 2025, during a wave of raids. She is accused of having ties to the Aborigen Forum, an association of experts and activists representing the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East. The forum disbanded in 2024 after being classified as extremist, even though its members had advocated for indigenous rights exclusively through nonviolent means. Following its dissolution, it was designated a “terrorist” organization. The extension of her detention sparked outrage among indigenous representatives worldwide and led to a solidarity campaign for Egereva.

“Being held in a Russian prison is an enormous ordeal for anyone. I spent five days in that nightmare in 2021. For me, it felt like five years of my life. Daria has already been detained for 86 days, and her detention has been extended by 92 days. This is terrible, unlawful, and a violation of her rights. “Call for the release of Daria Egereva!” appealed Andrey Danilov, a representative of the indigenous Sámi people, after the hearing.

“Last time, Daria Egereva’s detention was extended by one month; now it is three months. Despite appeals from representatives of Indigenous Peoples from various countries, Daria remains in detention. “It is heartbreaking to see how the solidarity of people around the world is simply being ignored in this situation,” said Aivana Enmynkau, a representative of the indigenous Nuvuqaghmiit.

According to STP, Egereva’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign by the Russian government against indigenous activists. “Russia has intensified its persecution of indigenous activists in recent months,” says Reinke. On December 17, 2025, raids were carried out on indigenous people in ten regions of Russia. Two women were arrested, one of them Egereva. 

Daria Egereva is co-chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) and advocates for indigenous rights. She is also actively involved in climate change issues at the United Nations and the Council of Europe. She belongs to the Selkup people, one of Russia’s smallest Indigenous Peoples with a total population of about 3,500. The Indigenous Peoples of Siberia, the Arctic, and the Far East are among the poorest segments of the population. They have no political influence and no effective mechanisms to protect their rights within Russia.

Society for Threatened Peoples