Indigenous Climate Advocate Detained in Russia

Daria Egereva, a prominent Indigenous Selkup woman from Tomsk in western Siberia, has been detained by Russian authorities on terrorism charges. Her arrest on December 17, 2025, has drawn condemnation from international organizations who view it as direct retaliation for her United Nations advocacy on behalf of Indigenous peoples.

For several years, Egereva has been a leading voice in global climate negotiations, working to ensure Indigenous perspectives are included in international environmental policy. Her detention marks a significant escalation in the repression of Indigenous activists challenging powerful governments on climate and human rights issues.

Since 2023, Egereva has served as co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, an official UN forum that facilitates Indigenous participation in global climate meetings. Her work has centered on ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at the highest levels of environmental decision-making.

During the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, Egereva specifically advocated for the inclusion of Indigenous women in climate negotiations. Her message was clear and urgent: "If we don't protect women, we don't have a future," she stated in a video published on social media on November 21.

Beyond her advocacy at climate conferences, Egereva conducted critical research on the effects of the green transition on Indigenous communities. In a 2024 report, she warned that:

• Green economy transitions without proper frameworks continue historical injustices
• Indigenous peoples face marginalization and discrimination
• Dispossession of lands and resources remains a critical concern
• Lack of Indigenous inclusion in green policies perpetuates harm

On December 17, Russian authorities conducted a search of Egereva's home, confiscating her digital devices and arresting her. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change described this as "a direct retaliation for her Indigenous rights advocacy," specifically citing her work at COP30.

Her arrest appears connected to her affiliation with the Aborigen Forum network, a group of Indigenous advocates that Russian authorities designated as an "extremist organization" in July 2024. The forum had advocated for protecting Indigenous peoples' rights as countries sought to develop the Arctic region.

Egereva was also previously a member of the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North, which Russian authorities shut down in 2019. According to her friend Luda Kinok, a Yupik woman from Russia, Egereva is expected to be detained until her next court hearing on February 17, after which she could face up to 20 years in prison.

Egereva's case is not isolated. The same week as her arrest, Valentina Vyacheslavovna Sivjubam, a Saami advocate and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, reported a similar search by Russian authorities.

"During the search, they seized technical equipment and searched the premises, folders, books, and boxes for four hours. They compiled a report without leaving a copy and without allowing me to call a lawyer," Sivjubam said through an interpreter. "I believe I am being persecuted for my activism and my steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples."

A 2023 UN report concluded that advocates from multiple countries have been discouraged from participating in UN processes due to fear of reprisals. In 2024, the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported an increase in such cases.

Global Witness data reveals a stark reality: more than 2,000 environmental and land defenders were killed or disappeared for their work between 2012 and 2024, with nearly one-third being Indigenous.

Egereva's arrest has been denounced by multiple Indigenous international organizations, including Cultural Survival, the SIRGE Coalition, and the International Indian Treaty Council. The IITC characterized the situation as "a grave case of intimidation and reprisal against an Indigenous leader in direct connection with her participation in the UNFCCC process."

Sineia Do Vale, who is Wapichana from Brazil and co-chairs the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change alongside Egereva, emphasized the broader implications:

"These reprisals are part of a broader pattern of repression affecting Indigenous peoples across the globe, and are an unacceptable attack on the right of Indigenous peoples to engage in the global human rights and climate change processes."

In October, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution criticizing Russia's designation of 55 Indigenous organizations and other groups as "extremist organizations." The resolution called on Russia to abide by international human rights law.

The case of Daria Egereva represents a critical test of international resolve in protecting Indigenous advocates who challenge state power on climate and human rights. Her upcoming court hearing on February 17 will determine whether she faces decades in prison for her UN advocacy work.

Her detention highlights the dangerous intersection of environmental activism, Indigenous rights, and state repression. As the world grapples with climate change, the silencing of Indigenous voices—those who have stewarded lands and ecosystems for millennia—poses a fundamental challenge to effective global environmental policy.

The international community's response to Egereva's case may set important precedents for how Indigenous advocates are protected when they engage in UN processes and challenge powerful governments on climate and human rights issues.