Before the 134th session of the UN Human Rights Committee, ADC Memorial and activists of the initiative “Revival of Kazas and the Shor People” presented a report on violations of the rights of the Shors, based on the study “Alluvial Gold Mining is Destroying the Life of the Indigenous Peoples of the Taiga: the destruction of traditional Shorian territories in Khakassia and Kemerovo Oblast” (2021).

Earlier, ADC Memorial and Shor activists submitted to the Committee a list of issues and problems concerning the rights of indigenous peoples in Russia: violation of the right to a healthy environment (right to life) by gold and coal mining companies and affiliated government agencies; violation of religious freedom and the right to cultural development; persecution of human rights defenders and activists protecting the rights of indigenous peoples.

The Committee will evaluate Russia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the 134th session (February 28 – March 25, 2022) after consideration of the state report of the Russian Federation and alternative materials submitted by human rights organizations.

You can read more about the violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in our reports: “I Won’t Have Any Life Without This Land”: Violations of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Resulting from Coal Mining in Southern Siberia (2020) and “Alluvial Gold Mining is Destroying the Life of the Indigenous Peoples of the Taiga: the destruction of traditional Shorian territories in Khakassia and Kemerovo Oblast” (2021).