Russian Federation: Indigenous leader detained in Russia: Daria Egereva
- André Ejankour
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Human rights defenders send appeals to the head of the Investigative Committee amid the case of Daria Egereva
The international organization Amnesty International has called on the Russian authorities to immediately release Indigenous representative Daria Egereva and to drop all criminal charges against her, launching a global letter-writing campaign addressed to the country’s leadership.
According to human rights defenders, Egereva — a representative of the Selkup people of Western Siberia and Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) — was detained on December 17, 2025, in Moscow after returning from the COP30 climate conference in Brazil.
Investigators charged her under Article 205.5, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (“participation in the activities of a terrorist organization”), which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charges are linked to her alleged involvement in the “Aborigen Forum,” an informal network of experts and activists advocating for Indigenous rights. In 2024, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation designated a number of organizations associated with ethnic minorities as “terrorist.”
As noted by Amnesty International, on the day of her detention, searches were conducted at the homes of at least 17 other activists, which may indicate a broader campaign of pressure against Indigenous representatives.
On March 12, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended Egereva’s pre-trial detention for another three months. The hearing was open to the public and attended by foreign diplomats as well as members of the activist’s family.
As part of its campaign, Amnesty International is calling on individuals to send appeals to Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia. A template letter expresses “deep concern over the criminal prosecution of a human rights defender” and emphasizes that her work has focused on climate issues, Indigenous cultures and languages, and women’s rights.
Human rights defenders stress that the use of anti-terrorism legislation in this case may be repressive in nature.
“Counter-terrorism laws must not be used to suppress civil society and persecute defenders of minority rights,” the appeal states.
Amnesty International is calling for Egereva’s immediate and unconditional release, the dropping of all charges against her, and guarantees that she can continue her human rights work.
Background
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961. It monitors human rights compliance, conducts investigations, and runs campaigns to support activists and victims of human rights violations around the world. The organization operates in more than 150 countries.
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