Six Months in Detention in Russia: Isolation of Detained Human Rights Activists Draws Criticism

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has criticized the deliberate isolation of human rights activists Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, who have been detained in Russia for six months. “Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt are being isolated and deliberately cut off from the outside world. We are deeply concerned for their safety,” says Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP.

According to the human rights organization, the trial of human rights activists Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt is politically motivated. They are accused of participating in a terrorist organization. “The Kremlin is deliberately using this charge to suppress and criminalize the work of human rights defenders and indigenous activists. The aim is to silence indigenous voices in Russia. Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt must be released immediately!” emphasizes Reinke.

Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt have been detained in Russia for six months. They were both arrested on December 17, 2025, as part of a wave of raids. They face up to 20 years in prison for their alleged involvement in a terrorist organization. Family members, journalists, and representatives from four embassies were denied access to the court last Friday (June 12).

“Even in such a sham trial, they have a right to transparency and visibility. The fact that observers have now been barred cuts off the flow of information to their supporters worldwide. That is precisely the court’s intention,” explains Reinke.

Their plight has sparked a wave of international solidarity. Indigenous NGOs and activists worldwide, ten UN special rapporteurs, over 100 human rights organizations, and hundreds of private citizens have been campaigning for their release for months.

Daria Egereva is co-chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) and advocates for indigenous rights. During the UN climate negotiations in Bonn a few days ago, the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) decided that Egereva will remain co-chair of the forum until her unconditional release. Egereva belongs to the Selkup people, one of Russia’s smallest Indigenous Peoples with a total population of about 3,500. The Indigenous Peoples of Siberia, the Arctic, and the Far East are among the poorest segments of the population. They have no political influence and no effective mechanisms to protect their rights within Russia.

Natalia Leongardt has been advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Russia for more than 20 years.

Tjan Zaotschnaja, volunteer coordinator for the STP on Indigenous Peoples in Russia and chair of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), is also available for interviews. If you are interested in an interview, please contact Sarah Reinke.