The International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), jointly with the International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity “Batani,” presents the report “The Crime of Being Indigenous 2026” by Olga Podoplelova, devoted to the systematic persecution of leaders, activists, journalists, public figures, and human rights defenders among the Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East of Russia. The report documents the shift from administrative and political pressure to the consistent criminalization of peaceful Indigenous human rights, civic, and international advocacy activities.
The report shows that, since 2019, the Russian authorities have systematically dismantled the independent infrastructure of Indigenous peoples by using the legislation on “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations.” After 2022, this practice entered a new phase and was increasingly accompanied by the use of anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation against initiatives, representatives, and networks engaged exclusively in peaceful work to defend the rights of Indigenous peoples.
The report pays particular attention to the case of Aborigen Forum, as well as to the persecution of Daria Egereva, Natalia Leongardt, and other Indigenous representatives. The cases presented in the report demonstrate that, in today’s Russia, not only public criticism but also independent human rights work, civic representation, expert engagement, and participation in international mechanisms, including those within the UN system, are at risk of criminal prosecution.
ICIPR regards the facts documented in the report as evidence of a systematic state policy aimed at suppressing the independent voice of Indigenous peoples, dismantling their human rights infrastructure, and restricting their opportunities for international advocacy. By presenting The Crime of Being Indigenous 2026, ICIPR seeks to draw the attention of international institutions, human rights organizations, UN bodies, Indigenous peoples worldwide, and civil society to the ongoing escalation of repression against Indigenous peoples in Russia.