Siberia

Indigenous Climate Advocate Detained in Russia Faces Terrorism Charges, Sparking International Outcry

Tomsk, Russia – Daria Yegereva, a Siberian Indigenous Selkup woman and co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), is currently awaiting trial in Russia on terrorism charges, a move widely condemned by international Indigenous rights groups as politically motivated retaliation for her advocacy work.

Yegereva was arrested on December 17th following a raid on her home in Tomsk, where authorities confiscated her electronic devices. She stands accused of “participating in the activities of a terrorist organization,” a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The arrest comes amidst a tightening crackdown on dissent in Russia, and specifically targets Indigenous groups perceived as challenging the Kremlin’s policies. Russian authorities allege Yegereva’s previous affiliation with an Indigenous group links her to a purported “anti-Russian separatist movement” – a movement the government itself has acknowledged as “non-existent” – and the Forum of Free States of Post-Russia, designated as “terrorist” in November 2024.

“Her arrest is completely unfounded,” stated the IIPFCC in a December 19th statement. The organization reports that Yegereva’s detention was part of a broader security service raid targeting at least 17 Indigenous leaders across Russia. The IIPFCC emphasized that Yegereva’s arrest is “direct retaliation for her Indigenous rights advocacy.”

Nearly 40 global, regional, and grassroots Indigenous caucuses and forums have signed an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging his intervention for Yegereva’s release. The letter, released this week, highlights the “professional and consultative character” of her participation in international processes, and warns that her detention “undermines confidence that Indigenous Peoples are able to fully participate in recognized international and United Nations processes without fear of retribution.”

The signatories, representing key Indigenous bodies involved in UN advocacy, stress that Yegereva’s work was “conducted in full accordance with officially recognized procedures.”

This case underscores the increasing vulnerability of environmental and human rights defenders in Russia, particularly those advocating for the rights of Indigenous communities. A recent report by Front Line Defenders documented a significant rise in attacks against human rights defenders in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Indigenous activists facing disproportionate risk.

The situation also highlights the precarious position of Indigenous peoples in Russia’s Arctic regions, where the Kremlin is aggressively pursuing resource extraction projects. As the government boasts of the Arctic’s economic potential, Indigenous communities are increasingly facing displacement, environmental degradation, and the suppression of their traditional ways of life. (See related article: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/11/as-kremlin-boasts-of-arctic-riches-indigenous-peoples-battle-poverty-and-await-ruin).

The arrest of Daria Yegereva is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Indigenous communities globally, and the urgent need to protect their rights and ensure their full and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives and territories.

https://www.iipfcc.org/blog/2025/12/19/international-indigenous-peoples-forum-on-climate-change-iipfcc-calls-for-the-immediate-release-of-imprisoned-co-chair-daria-egereva

https://zona.media/news/2025/12/21/egereva

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/04/26/russia-seeks-to-ban-nonexistent-anti-russian-separatist-movement-a84963

https://zona.media/news/2024/11/22/forum