Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt’s arbitrary detention in Russia: organisations join call for the release of an Indigenous climate leader and a human rights defender

A representative of the Selkup People, one of the Indigenous Peoples in Russia with a total population of 3,500 people, Ms. Egereva has a track record as a human rights defender ready to contribute her expertise in peaceful and constructive dialogue to advance climate action and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including through regular attendance at UN climate conferences.

On 17 December 2025, Russian authorities raided Ms. Egereva's home and arrested her for alleged participation in the activities of a so-called "terrorist organisation", under Article 205.5 (part 2) of the Russian Criminal Code. Ms. Egereva's arrest was part of a coordinated operation by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which targeted at least 17 other Indigenous leaders across different regions.

Among those caught in the same wave of detentions was also Natalia Leongardt, who worked jointly with Ms. Egereva to protect and promote Indigenous Peoples' rights.

On 11 February, the Moscow City Court dismissed Ms. Egereva and Ms. Leongardt's appeal against their pre-trial detention and upheld it without any changes. The decision to conduct the appeal hearing behind closed doors raises serious concerns regarding due process guarantees and the right to a fair trial. On 15 March, their detention was extended until 15 June. If convicted, Ms. Egereva and Ms. Leongardt face up to 20 years of imprisonment. At the time of this statement, Ms. Egereva and Ms. Leongardt remain in Moscow Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 6 until their trial.

Charges in both cases are based on an alleged association with the Indigenous human rights defenders' network Aborigen Forum, which was arbitrarily designated an "extremist organisation" in July 2024 and immediately self-dissolved. It was then designated a "terrorist organisation" in December 2024, even though its members have never engaged in any acts that could meet the threshold of terrorism.

Ms. Egereva and Ms. Leongardt's prosecution is a flagrant example of the human rights crackdown in Russia, which has intensified after the invasion of Ukraine. It is enabled by vague anti-terrorism legislation, instrumentalised to shrink civic space and entrench the criminalisation of peaceful civic activity and dissent.

Concerningly, Daria Egereva's arrest took place just a few weeks after her return from COP30, where she coordinated the work of the International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change in her role as Co-Chair. The timing of the prosecution has led several Indigenous rights organisations to assess this as a direct reprisal for her work at COP30 - a contribution to a multilateral process which should never be subject to repercussions. Her engagement has consistently taken place within internationally recognised consultative processes and in the exercise of mandates established by international bodies.

Adding to evidence against any qualification of her work as a terrorist activity, Ms. Egereva has served as a member of the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. She has also participated in the work of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Similarly, Ms. Leongardt performed practical arrangements to facilitate the participation of Indigenous defenders in crucial multilateral processes. Activities like hers, aimed at facilitating peaceful multilateral dialogue, in no way constitute a criminal offence or act of terrorism.

Indigenous Peoples are protecting our planet and society, defending a just transition away from an extractivist and fossil fuel-based model that is leading to ecological breakdown. Moreover, they advocate for sustainable solutions grounded in the respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights.

Indigenous Peoples face increased and widespread criminalisation, intimidation, harassment and violence - by both state and businesses - for exercising their rights and voicing demands for justice. This targeted attack appears manifestly to be in retaliation for their participation in UN processes, including those related to climate and biodiversity, and sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of Indigenous Peoples who take part in global meetings and for those supporting their involvement.

We join the global campaign to free Daria Egereva in their call on Russian authorities to drop all charges and immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Egereva. We further demand the liberation of Natalia Leongardt as well as all detained Indigenous human rights defenders, while also guaranteeing their physical and psychological well-being.

We call on all other States to unequivocally condemn the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and Indigenous leaders in Russia, and to exert their diplomatic leverage to push for an end to these arbitrary detentions.

We also demand the full respect for Indigenous Peoples' rights, including the right to engage with the United Nations without fear of reprisals or criminalisation. We invite all UN human rights bodies, including Treaty Bodies, and Special Procedures to operate for the release of defenders who are facing serious retribution for their invaluable involvement in UN-mandated activities.

Daria Egereva, Natalia Leongardt, and all Indigenous Peoples should not be punished for their efforts to see rights recognised and stand up for our common future. As their work reminds us, and now more than ever, we reaffirm: there is no climate justice without human rights.

Signatories:

1

AbibiNsroma Foundation

2

ActionAid France

3

Actions Communautaires pour le Développement de la Femme (ACODEFEM)

4

Adéquations

5

Advocatenkantoor Gaasbeek & Gaasbeek

6

Africa Child Care Nation (ACCN)

7

African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)

8

Amnesty International

9

Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos

10

Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE)

11

Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD)

12

Association Marocaine des Droits Humains

13

Banka Earth Foundation

14

Batani Foundation

15

Benet Mosop Community Association (BMCA)

16

Black Sea Women's Club

17

CAEDHU

18

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

19

Center for Prisoners' Rights

20

Centre for Human Rights and Development

21

Centro de Derechos Humanos y Políticas Públicas (Perú EQUIDAD)

22

Centro de Estudios Qullasuyu

23

Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CIPRODEH)

24

Child Rights International Network (CRIN)

25

Climate Action Network Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (CAN EECCA)

26

Climate Action Network International (CAN-I)

27

Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA)

28

Climate Action Network Zimbabwe

29

Climate Activist Defenders

30

Coalition des Volontaires pour la Paix et le Développement (CVPD- RDC)

31

Community Action for Health and Development

32

COPAD Grand-Lacs RDC

33

CRIOLA

34

Cultural Survival

35

Dalit with Disabilities Association Nepal

36

Dejusticia - Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad

37

Disability Peoples Forum Uganda

38

Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast

39

Earthjustice

40

Ecolur Informational NGO

41

Emonyo Yefwe International

42

Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO)

43

Federación Indígena Empresarial y Comunidades Locales de México. A. CFederación Indígena Empresarial y Comunidades Locales de México. A. C

44

FirecircleTT To End All Forms of Abuse

45

Foundation Day of the Endangered Lawyer

46

FSC Indigenous Foundation

47

Global Participe

48

Green Rights Coalition

49

Greenpeace International

50

Habitat Defenders Africa (HDA)

51

HRM "Bir Duino - Kyrgyzstan "

52

Human Power Organisation

53

Human Rights Center

54

Indigenous Climate Action

55

Indigenous Environmental Network

56

Indigenous Peoples Foundation for Education and Environment

57

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

58

International Network for Sustainable Energy

59

International Service for Human Rights

60

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

61

Kimbé Rèd FWI

62

League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)

63

Les Mêmes Droits pour Tous

64

Ligue Burundaise des droits de l'homme Iteka

65

Ligue des droits de l'Homme (LDH)

66

Minority Rights Group (MRG)

67

Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos (MNDH Brasil)

68

Mwanamke Fund

69

National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN)

70

Natural Justice

71

New Life Association

72

NGO "Arctida"

73

NGO Angel

74

Norwegian Helsinki Committee

75

Not1More

76

Operação Amazônia Nativa (OPAN)

77

Organisation Nationale des Droits de l'Homme (ONDH), Senegal

78

Pastoralists Indigenous NGO's Forum (PINGO's Forum)

79

Porgera Red Wara (River) Women's Association Incorporated (PRWWA INC.).Porgera Red Wara (River) Women's Association Incorporated (PRWWA INC.).

80

Public Association "Dignity"

81

Quakers in Britain

82

RADDHO

83

Réseau de communication et de développement de la femme sénégalaise

84

Réseau des organisations de défense des Droits de l'homme en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC)

85

Rivers & Rights

86

Rural Infrastructure & Human Resource Development Organization

87

Sinatsisa Lubombo Women and girls Empowerment organization

88

Socio-Ecological Fund

89

Sukaar Welfare Organization

90

Sustainable Strategic Solutions

91

Swedwatch

92

Taiwan Association for Human Rights

93

Talent des femmes autochtones et rurales

94

The Egyptian Foundation for Environmental Rights

95

The Woven Project

96

Tipping Point North South

97

Uganda Eyenkya Development Project Group

98

Unidad de la Fuerza Indígena y Campesina

99

Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism

100

Voices (formerly Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland)

101

Women and Modern World Social Charitable Center (CWMW)

102

Women for Justice and Equality

103

Women's Environment and Development Organization

104

Working Group ICCAs Indonesia

105

World Organisation Against Torture

106

World's Youth for Climate Justice