The International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR) expresses extreme concern and indignation over the inclusion of 55 Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, national minorities, decolonial, and other associations in the list of “extremists” by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Aborigen-Forum, an informal association of independent experts, activists, leaders, and public organizations of the small-numbered Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, also appeared in the list.
The list also includes the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), according to the publication on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Earlier, we expressed concern when, on June 7, the Supreme Court of Russia, at the request of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, recognized the so-called “Anti-Russian Separatist Movement” as an extremist organization. We feared that, since such an organization does notify exist and the wording is very broad, any organization criticizing the Russian authorities could be included under this decision.
Now it is evident how this decision is being implemented. The organizations defending the rights of indigenous peoples are being included into the list of the “extremist” organizations.
Andrey Fedorkov, the lawyer who collaborates with the human rights project ”Support for political prisoners. Memorial” comments for Idel.Realii: “Currently, anyone who displays any symbols of their region, used by any organization advocating for the freedom and independence of their region, is at risk. This includes anyone who distributes relevant materials or provides links related to this topic. We can see how absurd the application of the law is. My prediction is that a significant number of criminal cases will follow based on these articles”.
Our committee also sees this as a reaction from the Russian government to the participation of indigenous movements in international platforms, such as the UN.
Just two weeks ago (July 8-12, 2024), a session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) concluded in Geneva, where members of our organization raised issues of human rights violations against indigenous peoples in Russia, as well as Russia’s influence on UN bodies.
Additionally, shortly before the UN session, ICIPR published a report on the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East of the Russian Federation (RAIPON), which is controlled by the Russian government.
- It is important to note that immediately after the EMRIP session in 2022, Russia blocked our website iRussia.
- In 2023, after the EMRIP session, ICIPR member and Indigenous human rights defender Pavel Sulyandziga was added to the list of foreign agents.
- And now, in 2024, after the EMRIP session, we have been included in the “extremist” list.
WE SEE THAT THE REPRESSIVE MACHINE IS GATHERING MOMENTUM. THE METHODS OF PERSECUTION AGAINST INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE INTENSIFYING.
WE, representatives of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, are deeply alarmed by our inclusion in the “extremist list.” We express our extreme concern regarding the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in this situation.
WE, as representatives of the indigenous peoples of Russia, stand in solidarity with other associations that have also been included in this list.
WE call upon all international organizations, NGOs, as well as intergovernmental, scientific, and human rights bodies, including the UN, the Council of Europe, and the Arctic Council, to CONDEMN the decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation to include 55 organizations in the “extremist” list.
WE ASK FOR SUPPORT IN THE STRUGGLE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF RUSSIA FOR THEIR RIGHTS.
26 July 2024
ICIPR is an international indigenous organization that was created in March 2022 as a reaction of several Russian indigenous leaders and activists at the start of the war in Ukraine. All founding members of ICIPR previously worked as activists or IP community leaders in Russia and were expelled from the country for different political reasons. The ICIPR creation aimed to promote the rights of indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic, Siberia, and the Far East on their traditional lands, resources, and self-determination on national and global levels under wartime conditions and political repressions in Russia.
Website ICIPR: https://icipr.international
Contact: icipr.info@gmail.com
ADC Memorial – Brussels supports the colleagues from the organizations of indigenous peoples who have issued a statement against recognition of their structures as ‘extremist’ in the Russian Federation