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We, the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), have submitted an official communication to the President of the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, concerning the continued participation of Ms. Antonina Gorbunova as a member of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP). The communication was submitted on 29 May 2026.
We express serious concern that Ms. Gorbunova serves as Administrative Chair of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), an organization whose independence and representational legitimacy have long been questioned by Indigenous rights defenders from the Russian Federation. These concerns have become particularly acute amid increasing restrictions on independent Indigenous activism and civic participation in Russia.
We have requested that the Human Rights Council and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples review whether Ms. Gorbunova continues to meet the standards of independence, impartiality, integrity, and commitment to the protection of Indigenous rights expected from individuals entrusted with advancing and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples globally.
Our concerns are based on several interrelated factors.
First, Ms. Gorbunova holds a leadership position within RAIPON. Following the 2013 restructuring of RAIPON and subsequent leadership changes, many Indigenous activists and organizations have questioned the organization’s ability to represent Indigenous interests autonomously from state authorities and to reflect the diversity of views that exist among Indigenous communities.
Second, our concerns became particularly acute following the criminal proceedings initiated on 17 December 2025 against 17 Indigenous activists and representatives of independent Indigenous organizations. At a moment when peaceful Indigenous rights defenders, environmental advocates, and representatives of independent Indigenous organizations faced severe criminal accusations, RAIPON did not advocate for due process protections, civic freedoms, or the protection of Indigenous participation. Instead, it publicly declared that it had “no moral right” to defend them before any judicial determination had been made.
We believe that the test of Indigenous representation is not participation in international forums alone. It is, above all, the willingness and ability to defend Indigenous rights and Indigenous civic space when those rights come into tension with state priorities.
Third, RAIPON’s January 2026 statement went far beyond silence or refusal to support detained activists. It questioned the legitimacy of independent Indigenous organizations and asserted that they lacked a mandate to speak internationally on behalf of Indigenous Peoples of Russia. Moreover, independent Indigenous organizations and activists were portrayed as participants in projects directed against the Russian state. In our assessment, such actions contribute to the delegitimization and criminalization of alternative independent Indigenous representation.
We are especially alarmed by the use of international Indigenous rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, not to protect Indigenous human rights defenders, but to justify their exclusion and discredit them. Mechanisms and standards created to protect Indigenous Peoples must not be turned into instruments of pressure against Indigenous activists themselves.
We also view these developments in the broader context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. RAIPON has publicly aligned itself with state narratives regarding the war and has not publicly addressed the consequences of this war for Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, including Crimean Tatars and other Indigenous communities. We believe that any public support for, justification of, or alignment with policies contributing to harm against Indigenous communities is incompatible with the spirit and principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
For us, the legitimacy of international Indigenous rights institutions depends not only on formal representation, but also on the independence, accountability, and demonstrated commitment of those who speak in the name of Indigenous Peoples. Membership in EMRIP carries responsibilities not only of expertise, but also of proven commitment to the protection of Indigenous rights, Indigenous participation, and the legitimacy of diverse independent Indigenous voices.
In light of these concerns, we request:
- a review of Ms. Gorbunova’s compliance with the standards of independence and impartiality applicable to EMRIP members;
- consideration of information provided by independent Indigenous organizations and human rights defenders from the Russian Federation;
- an assessment of whether her continued participation contributes to or undermines confidence in the credibility and integrity of the Expert Mechanism;
- consultations with independent Indigenous organizations and Indigenous human rights defenders from the Russian Federation regarding representation and participation;
- appropriate measures to preserve confidence in the credibility, independence, and legitimacy of EMRIP.
We reaffirm our commitment to the protection of Indigenous rights, the defense of independent civic space, and the principle that international Indigenous rights mechanisms must remain independent, credible, and accountable to Indigenous Peoples themselves.