The International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR) and the BATANI Foundation present a joint report, “Manufacturing Indigenous Legitimacy: Russia’s Architecture of Captured Indigenous Representation and International Propaganda.”
The report examines how the Russian state uses RAIPON, government institutions, extractive corporations, educational initiatives, and international platforms to create the appearance of Indigenous participation while marginalizing independent Indigenous voices.
Particular attention is given to the School of Indigenous Diplomacy, corporate funding from Nornickel, the role of PORA and KMNSOYUZ, and the placement of state-aligned representatives within UN Indigenous rights mechanisms.
The authors argue that these are not isolated initiatives, but elements of an integrated architecture of managed legitimacy, where state coordination, corporate resources, and expert infrastructure are used to replace independent Indigenous representation with controlled structures.
The report is prepared jointly by ICIPR and the BATANI Foundation.