2 Indigenous Rights Advocates Remain Jailed in Russia

Activists were expected to attend UN forum but were detained instead

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:13am

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A cinematic painting in the style of Edward Hopper, depicting a solitary Indigenous woman standing alone in a dimly lit, abandoned government building hallway, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and repression.The detention of Indigenous activists in Russia signals a broader crackdown on civil society and dissent.NYC Today

Daria Egereva, an Indigenous Selkup climate advocate, was expected to return to the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this year, but instead she remains jailed in Russia. Egereva and another Indigenous rights activist are being held in what advocates describe as a crackdown on dissent.

Why it matters

The detentions of Egereva and the other activist are seen as part of a broader pattern of the Russian government targeting Indigenous and environmental advocates, using them as 'bellwethers' to test new forms of repression before applying them more widely to other activists, human rights groups, and civil society.

The details

Egereva, an Indigenous Selkup woman, was planning to travel to New York to speak at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where she had previously addressed how Indigenous peoples are confronting environmental degradation and climate change. However, she was detained by Russian authorities and remains jailed, along with another unnamed Indigenous rights advocate.

  • Egereva spoke at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues two years ago.
  • Egereva was expected to return to the U.N. forum in New York next week.

The players

Daria Egereva

An Indigenous Selkup climate advocate who was expected to speak at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues but was detained by Russian authorities instead.

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The takeaway

The detentions of Egereva and the other Indigenous rights advocate highlight the Russian government's crackdown on dissent, particularly targeting those who advocate for environmental and Indigenous issues. This pattern of repression is seen as a test run for the government to apply to a wider range of civil society groups.