Russian Lawmaker Targeted as Dissent Grows in Arctic Region
YAKUTIA, RUSSIA – A regional Russian lawmaker is facing increased pressure from authorities after speaking out about the diminishing autonomy of his region and the rights of its Indigenous population. Alexander Ivanov, a member of the Il Tumen regional parliament in the republic of Sakha (Yakutia), was recently designated a “foreign agent” by the Justice Ministry, a label widely used to discredit and suppress dissent in Russia.
The move against Ivanov, announced in late February, comes amid a broader crackdown on opposition voices intensified by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ivanov himself acknowledged the escalating pressure, stating, “Today it is me and tomorrow they might come for others, my friends. Don’t be so happy about it.”
Just days before the “foreign agent” designation, fellow deputies requested a law enforcement investigation into Ivanov, accusing him of spreading “fake” news and violating anti-extremism laws – charges that carry the threat of imprisonment. The catalyst for the inquiry was a video posted by Ivanov during a trip to Kazakhstan, where he praised Kazakhstan’s independence and expressed regret that the Sakha people do not share the same status.
“We are not allowed to study our language, study our true history, to control the lands inherited from our forefathers,” Ivanov said in the video. He emphasized that even vast wealth would be insignificant compared to the freedom of his people.
Sakha, Russia’s largest region, is roughly the size of India but home to just over one million people. The Sakha, a Turkic ethnic group, comprise over 55% of the population, with Russians making up more than 32%. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sakha sought greater sovereignty, declaring both Sakha and Russian as official languages and asserting ownership of the region’s abundant natural resources, including significant diamond deposits, in its 1992 constitution.
Ivanov’s political career began in local government, serving as head of the village of Zharkhan and later the city of Nyurba. Running as an independent, he defeated a candidate backed by the United Russia party in a mayoral race. While initially identifying as a supporter of United Russia, he quickly gained a reputation as a dissenting voice, challenging authorities on a range of issues.
His ambitions led him to run for district head in 2022, but his campaign was thwarted by a copyright infringement claim, resulting in his disqualification from the race. Despite the setback, Ivanov remained politically active, winning a seat in Sakha’s parliament in September 2023 as an independent candidate backed by the New People party.
In parliament, Ivanov quickly challenged the status quo, questioning the practices of veteran members and advocating for greater regional autonomy. This outspokenness led to his expulsion from the New People faction after accusations of harboring Sakha nationalist sentiments, stemming from an interview with a Turkish blogger and his support for protests in the Altai Republic regarding local government reform.
Ivanov maintains he will not leave the country while holding his parliamentary mandate, stating his commitment to fulfilling his “civic duty” to his people. Sakha’s Il Tumen is scheduled to debate his possible expulsion from parliament later this month.
The case of Alexander Ivanov highlights the growing suppression of dissent in Russia’s regions and the challenges faced by those seeking to protect the rights and autonomy of Indigenous communities. The Moscow Times has reported extensively on the increasing restrictions on political freedoms within Russia.
