Two years after the prisoner exchange with Russia: Calls for the Release of Indigenous Activists Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt

Two years after the prisoner exchange between Western countries, Russia, and Belarus on August 1, 2024, in which 16 political prisoners were released, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is calling for greater efforts on behalf of political prisoners in Russia: “Indigenous human rights defenders Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt have been held in Russian custody since December 17, 2025, and are charged with alleged terrorism. The women are innocent, the proceedings are politically motivated, and the potential prison sentences are draconian,” explains Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP. “The German government must vigorously advocate for their release. After all, the prisoner exchange two years ago showed that tenacious negotiations can succeed. But this requires public pressure and political will. The next hearing is scheduled for August 5 in Moscow. The issue at hand is the extension of their pretrial detention. The days leading up to it should be used to step up diplomatic efforts,” Reinke urges.

Egereva is co-chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC). Leongardt has been advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Russia for over 20 years. Both have played a key role in strengthening the dialogue between Indigenous communities and international platforms, such as at the UN level. “It appears that these two women are now to be punished for this work. They face up to 20 years in prison under appalling conditions. The international community must urgently prevent this,” Reinke demands.

According to the human rights organization OWD-Info, more than 2,100 people are currently detained in Russia for political reasons. Among them are many members of minority groups and Indigenous Peoples. Daria Egereva belongs to the Selkup people, one of Russia’s smallest indigenous groups with approximately 3,500 members. The Indigenous Peoples of Siberia, the Arctic, and the Far East are among the country’s poorest and most politically marginalized groups—lacking effective mechanisms to protect their rights.

“Russia’s recent complaint that Western states are using the issue of Indigenous Peoples as a lever, however, shows that political and public pressure from the West is having an impact in Moscow. The release of Egereva and Leongardt must therefore be a high priority for the German government; those responsible must explore all possibilities for a prisoner exchange,” said Reinke.

As part of the prisoner exchange in August 2024, the prominent Russian human rights defender Oleg Orlov, among others, was released. The STP, together with other human rights organizations, had long campaigned for this.

You can find our petition for the release of the two activists here.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at 65]G378o6DD6CA.