The Indigenous World 2026: Russia

Written on 22 April 2026. Posted in Russia

Indigenous Peoples are not recognized by Russian legislation as such; however, Article 67 of the current constitution does guarantee the rights of “Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples”. The 1999 Federal Act “On Guarantees of the Rights of the Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the Russian Federation” specifies that Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples are groups of less than 50,000 members, perpetuating some aspects of their traditional ways of life. According to this and two other framework laws that were enacted during the late 1990s, Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples have rights to consultation and participation in specific cases. There is, however, no such concept as “Free, Prior and Informed Consent” enshrined in legislation. The last two decades have seen a steady erosion of this legal framework and a heavy re-centralization of Russia, including the abolition of several Indigenous autonomous territories.

Of the more than 160 peoples inhabiting the territory of contemporary Russia, 47 are officially recognized as Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples, including 40 that are recognized as Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East. One more group, the Izhma Komi or Izvatas, is pursuing recognition, which continues to be denied. Together, Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples number over 315,000, including some 265,000 that belong to Small-Numbered Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, or around 0.2% of Russia’s total population of over 147,000,000 (of which ethnic Russians account for approximately 72%).^[1] Many other peoples, whose numbers exceed 50,000, such as the Sakha (Yakut) and Buryat of the Russian Far East, the Volga Tatars, Bashkirs and many groups populating the North Caucasus are not officially considered Indigenous Peoples, and their self-identification varies.

Since the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, several ethnic groups who self-identify as Indigenous have come under Russia’s effective control, even though Russia has not recognized this self-identification: the Crimean Tatars, the Krymchaks and the Karaim. In 2021, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, adopted the Law on Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine recognizing the three groups as Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine.^[2]

Two-thirds of Indigenous Peoples are rural and depend on traditional subsistence strategies such as fishing, hunting and reindeer herding, although Russia on the whole is a highly urbanized country.

Civil society is affected by continually shrinking space, as the country’s secret police, the Federal Security Service (FSB), has gradually been gaining power. An array of repressive laws seeking to silence critics of the government has led many civil society organizations, including Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, and independent media, to close down. Many human rights defenders, including some prominent Indigenous rights activists, have been prosecuted or forced to seek asylum abroad.

Russia’s export revenues are largely generated from the sale of natural resources, often extracted from territories traditionally inhabited or used by Indigenous Peoples. The country’s development strategy is largely geared towards further increasing the exploitation of the Arctic’s natural resources, resulting in negative consequences for the state of Indigenous Peoples’ human rights and limiting opportunities for their effective protection.

Russia has neither ratified ILO Convention 169 nor endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The country inherited its membership of the major UN Covenants and Conventions from the Soviet Union: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (ICEDAW) and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Russia has ratified the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM); however, in October 2023 President Putin signed a decree stipulating Russia’s exit from this.

This article is part of the 40^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Raipon’s 10^th Congress

The 10^th Congress of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East (RAIPON)—the largest Indigenous Peoples’ organization in Russia—was held on 25 April 2025. The congress program included celebrations marking the organization’s 35^th anniversary, as well as the election of a new president.^[3]

The election of the new leader proved to be largely procedural, as the name of the future president—RAIPON Vice-President Aleksandr Novyukhov—was known in advance. Formally, Mr. Novyukhov competed against a young leader from Kamchatka, Andrey Metelitsa. No debates were held, however, and the entire process lasted only two and a half hours. Mr. Novyukhov was elected with 199 votes, while Metelitsa received 16.^[4]

Mr. Novyukhov, a representative of the Khanty people, replaces Grigorii Ledkov, a Nenets, who had led the organization since 2013. Under Ledkov’s leadership, RAIPON—once an independent, vocal, and influential advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights in Russia—has effectively become a state-controlled entity.^[5]

Both Ledkov and Novyukhov are members of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament and belong to the ruling political party, United Russia. As senators, both voted in favour of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—a decision also endorsed by RAIPON. The war’s impact on the small-numbered Indigenous Peoples of Russia led the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Russian Federation, Marianna Katzarova, to conclude in her 2024 report that “some small-numbered groups may face extinction from war casualties”. RAIPON’s continued support for the war was evident at the congress, where the program included a celebration of “Special Military Operation’s heroes” from among the small-numbered Indigenous Peoples of Russia.^[6]

Two new holidays

In November, President Vladimir Putin signed decrees establishing two new holidays: the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples, to be celebrated on 30 April, and the Day of the Languages of the Peoples of Russia, to be celebrated on 8 September.^[7] According to the decree, Indigenous Peoples’ day is established “in order to preserve the traditional way of life, economic activities, crafts, and distinctive culture of the country's Indigenous small-numbered peoples”, while languages day is “for the purpose of preserving and supporting languages of the Russian Federation”.

Independent Indigenous leaders and experts largely agree that the introduction of these new dates is intended to divert public attention from the real challenges affecting Indigenous Peoples in Russia.^{[8], [9]} These include the continued judicial harassment of Indigenous leaders and rights activists in the context of the expansion of extractive industries on Indigenous lands, bureaucratic hurdles that impede traditional livelihoods, and the decline of minority languages—partly due to reduced state support and fewer hours allocated for traditional language education.

It is particularly noteworthy that these holidays were introduced less than a year after numerous Indigenous and minority organizations were designated as “terrorist organizations” by Russian security services (see The Indigenous World 2025). Additionally, less than two months after the announcement of the new holidays, approximately 20 Indigenous rights defenders in Russia were facing prosecution.

Finally, it is worth noting that the official date chosen by Russia for its Indigenous Peoples’ holiday does not coincide with the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, celebrated globally on 9 August.

Impact of Tax Code changes on Indigenous Peoples’ rights

On 2 December, the Standing Committee of the State Assembly (Il Tumen) of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) held a meeting^[10] on the urgent issue of ensuring legal protections for the traditional way of life of the small-numbered Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East. The discussion centred on a critical analysis of the consequences arising from changes to the Tax Code that came into force in 2024.

The meeting was attended by Indigenous leaders and representatives of legislative assemblies from various regions of Russia, including Altai, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Primorsky Territories, as well as the Yamalo-Nenets and Nenets Autonomous Districts. Participants concluded that the changes to the Tax Code had been adopted with procedural violations and had caused significant harm to the interests of Indigenous Peoples.

Under the previous legislation, land plots used by Indigenous Peoples to sustain their traditional way of life were exempt from taxation. However, the new version restricts this exemption to a list of settlements approved by the government. As a result, the exemption no longer applies to lands actually used for reindeer herding, hunting, and other traditional economic activities, which are typically located in inter-settlement territories.

In one case, a community that has practised traditional reindeer herding and hunting on a territory of 224,219.81 hectares since time immemorial received an oral notification requiring them to pay land tax in the amount of 2.7 million rubles (approx. EUR 27,000)—a sum that a small community relying on traditional livelihoods cannot realistically afford. These changes to the tax legislation therefore threaten the very existence of the community and its traditional way of life.

The development of the law did not involve consultations with Indigenous Peoples and appears not to have undergone the mandatory regulatory impact assessment, which is intended to evaluate the potential effects of new legislation. Moreover, the explanatory note to the draft law contained no analysis or justification regarding Indigenous Peoples or the law’s impact on their rights.

Participants in the meeting proposed several measures to address the situation and planned to submit their recommendations to RAIPON, the State Duma, and the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs of Russia.

Prosecution of Indigenous leaders and rights activists

On 17 December, in what appeared to be a well‑planned and coordinated operation, Russian security services raided the homes of more than a dozen Indigenous leaders and Indigenous Peoples’ rights activists across several regions of the country. During the raids, police seized documents and electronic devices. After many hours of interrogation, most activists were released. However, Mrs. Daria Egereva—a Selkup and co‑chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)—and another individual whose identity has not been disclosed were detained on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. If convicted, Daria could face up to 20 years in prison. Several Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and networks have issued statements calling for the release of the well‑known Indigenous rights advocate.^{[11],[12],[13],[14]}

Among those whose homes were searched on 17 December and who were interrogated by security services was Mrs. Valentina Sovkina, a well‑known Saami rights defender and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Since the raid, Valentina has left the country and posted a statement on her social media^[15] denouncing the ongoing campaign of repression against Indigenous Peoples in Russia. In her statement, Valentina highlights the cruelty of choosing especially harsh sentences to silence Indigenous Peoples’ rights activists who are trying to defend their ancestral environment, livelihoods, and culture.

The 2025 report of the Special Rapporteur

In September, at the 16^th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation, Marianna Katzarova, presented her annual report.^[16] Among other issues, the report highlighted state actions aimed at silencing independent media by designating them as “terrorist organizations”, including outlets run by members of national minority groups and Indigenous Peoples.

The report also emphasized the pressure exerted on Indigenous leaders, noting that dozens of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and media outlets had been added to the government’s list of terrorist organizations.

Furthermore, the report reiterated concerns expressed in last year’s assessment about the continued disproportionate targeting of Indigenous Peoples for military mobilization—often forced—to fight in the war in Ukraine, including in communities at risk of extinction due to war casualties.

The report concludes that, over the past three and a half years, the Russian authorities have continued to pursue a deliberate strategy to eliminate dissent through intensified censorship and politically motivated prosecutions under broad public safety and national security provisions. Among its recommendations, the report calls for rescinding the Supreme Court’s decision to designate the non‑existent “Anti‑Russian Separatist Movement” as an extremist organization and for ending the targeting of Indigenous Peoples’ and national minorities’ organizations and advocates with “extremist” and “terrorist” labels.

The report further urges the Russian Federation to align its national legislation with the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to ratify ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169).

Due to the sensitivity of the issues covered in this article, IWGIA prefers to keep the author(s) anonymous.

This article is part of the 40^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Notes and references

^[1] Federal State Statistics Service. “Outcomes of the All-Russia Population Census 2020. Volume 5 National composition and language proficiency.” 31 December 2022. https://rosstat.gov.ru/vpn/2020/Tom5_Nacionalnyj_sostav_i_vladenie_yazykami

^[2] Library of Congress. “Ukraine: New Law Determines Legal Status of Indigenous People.” 2 August 2021. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2021-08-02/ukraine-new-law-determines-legal-status-of-indigenous-people/

^[3] Aleksandr Nov'juhov izbran prezidentom Associacii korennyh malochislennyh narodov Severa, Sibiri i Dal'nego Vostoka. Khanty, Mansi, Mir: 28 April 2025 https://khanty-yasang.ru/news/20477

^[4] Changes have taken place in the public organization of the indigenous peoples of the North of Russia. THE ARCTIC GATEWAY: 7 October 2025. https://arcticportal.org/ap-library/news/3794-changes-have-taken-place-in-the-public-organization-of-the-indigenous-peoples-of-the-north-of-russia

^[5] ICIPR Statement оn the 35^th Anniversary of RAIPON. Indigenous Russia: 28 April 2025 https://icipr.international/archives/1188

^[6] United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. “A/HRC/57/59: Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation.” 13 September 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc5759-situation-human-rights-russian-federation-report-special

^[7] V Den' narodnogo edinstva v Rossii uchrezhdeny dve novye prazdnichnye daty RAIPON.INFO: 4 November 2025 https://raipon.info/press-tsentr/novosti/v-den-narodnogo-edinstva-v-rossii-uchrezhdeny-dve-novye-prazdnichnye-daty/

^[8] Leyla Latypova. Regions Calling: Kremlin’s New Holidays Offer a Hollow Embrace of Indigenous Peoples, Activists Say. The Moscow Times: 13 November 2025 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/13/regions-calling-kremlins-new-holidays-offer-a-hollow-embrace-of-indigenous-peoples-activists-say-a91116

^[9] “A mockery” for Indigenous Peoples who are systematically persecuted. The Society for Threatened Peoples Germany: 7 November 2025 https://www.gfbv.de/en/news/indigene-voelker-russland-feiertag-hohn-systematische-verfolgung0-11884/

^[10] Zakon, prinjatyj v speshke: kak izmenenie nalogovogo kodeksa udarilo po pravam korennyh narodov Severa. Ilkjen: 3 December 2025 https://ilken.ru/2025/12/03/zakon-prinyatyj-v-speshke-kak-izmenenie-nalogovogo-kodeksa-udarilo-po-pravam-korennyh-narodov-severa/

^[11] International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) calls for the immediate release of imprisoned Co-Chair, Daria Egereva. IIPFCC: 19 December 2025 https://www.iipfcc.org/blog/2025/12/19/international-indigenous-peoples-forum-on-climate-change-iipfcc-calls-for-the-immediate-release-of-imprisoned-co-chair-daria-egereva

^[12] IITC Submits UN Urgent Actions calling for the release of jailed Russian Indigenous Human and Climate Justice Defender, Daria Egereva. International Indian Treaty Council: 18 December 2025. https://www.iitc.org/iitc-submits-un-urgent-actions-calling-for-the-release-of-jailed-russian-indigenous-human-and-climate-justice-defender-daria-egereva/

^[13] Freedom to Daria Egereva and all Indigenous activists, victims of political repression, discrimination and colonial suppression of Indigenous peoples! ADC Memorial: 20 December 2025 https://adcmemorial.org/en/news/breaking-news/freedom-to-daria-egereva-and-all-indigenous-activists-victims-of-political-repression-discrimination-and-colonial-suppression-of-indigenous-peoples/

^[14] ICIPR Statement on the Persecution of Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives in Russia on Fabricated Charges of “Terrorism” and “Extremism” ICIPR: 19 December 2025 https://icipr.international/archives/1312

^[15] Valentina Sovkina, Facebook post: 22 December 2025 https://www.facebook.com/people/Valentina-Sovkina/pfbid02bBz4a34SruZULAxq1u6JpJPERxwxnKRa6QGLubDSEaZKV5FhuFSP9tY6erQuoXG3l/

^[16] Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova. A/HRC/60/59, 15 September 2025

Tags: Global governance