A Moscow court has extended the detention of Daria Egereva, an Indigenous Selkup climate advocate, until at least March 15 on terrorism charges. Egereva, co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, was arrested on December 17 shortly after attending the COP30 conference. The United Nations and numerous Indigenous organizations have called for her immediate release.
Daria Egereva, an Indigenous Selkup from Russia and co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change since 2023, was arrested by Russian authorities on December 17. This occurred just weeks after she returned from the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, where she advocated for increased participation of Indigenous women in climate negotiations. Egereva has also served on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and participated in the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Last week, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow held a closed hearing and extended her pretrial detention until at least March 15. She faces terrorism charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison. Details of the charges remain sealed, and the court did not respond to requests for comment. Egereva is one of two Indigenous advocates currently jailed in Russia, though the second individual's name has not been disclosed publicly, according to her attorney.
The United Nations has expressed concern over her detention. Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated, “The detention of Daria Egereva raises concerns about arbitrary detention and the application of counterterrorism legislation against those exercising their fundamental freedoms.” He added, “People must never face criminal prosecution for engaging in advocacy or exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression. Egereva and all those detained for exercising their human rights must be released immediately.”
Russia has faced U.N. criticism for its treatment of Indigenous activists. In October 2024, the U.N. Human Rights Council urged the country to uphold international human rights law, highlighting the designation of 55 Indigenous organizations as “extremist,” including the Aborigen Forum network and the Centre for the Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North, groups Egereva had been involved with before their shutdown.
Prior to the hearing, nearly three dozen Indigenous organizations and U.N. forums sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting Egereva's release. The letter noted, “Her work contributed to constructive, respectful, and peaceful dialogue between Indigenous peoples and state delegations. Her role was strictly coordinative and facilitative in nature, supporting orderly engagement within official negotiation processes.” It further emphasized, “Ms. Egereva’s activities were exclusively professional, nonviolent, and institutional in nature, firmly grounded in dialogue and cooperation, and conducted in full accordance with officially recognized procedures. Her detention undermines confidence that Indigenous Peoples are able to fully participate in recognized international and United Nations processes without fear of retribution.”
Al-Kheetan also mentioned broader concerns, referencing a U.N. report on intimidation and reprisals against U.N. participants from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, which documented incidents in 32 countries. Indigenous Peoples Rights International's executive director, Joan Carling, spoke at the U.N. Environment Assembly in December, saying, “We monitor carbon and restored forests — but not the Indigenous defenders who are killed, jailed, or criminalized.” Global Witness reported that more than 700 Indigenous environmental defenders were killed or disappeared between 2012 and 2024.
While Russia under Putin has established an official Day of Indigenous Minorities, the International Working Group of Indigenous Affairs notes that the government has eroded Indigenous rights by eliminating recognition of some territories, closing organizations, and prompting activists to seek asylum abroad.
