Mobilization, Low Life Expectancy, and Extremism: Key Highlights on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Russia from the UN Special Rapporteur’s Report
Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia, delivered a report on the state of human rights in the country during the 57th session of the United Nations.
Katzarova highlighted the harsh suppression of protests by ethnic minorities and Indigenous peoples in Russia, particularly demonstrations advocating for environmental rights. She referenced the persecution of activists in Bashkortostan as an example. Among the political prisoners, she cited Yakut shaman Alexander Gabyshev, who was sentenced to forced psychiatric treatment for his “pilgrimage against Putin.”
The report also mentioned the designation of the fictitious “Anti-Russian Separatist Movement” as an extremist group, followed by the classification of 55 independent Indigenous organizations, including those from the Arctic regions, as “extremist.”
RAIPON (Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North), which officially handles the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Arctic, was involved in adding these groups to the extremist list. However, RAIPON has been criticized for acting as a government policy tool and lobbying large companies. This was documented in an investigative report by “Arctida,” in collaboration with “Verstka.”
Katzarova noted that Russia’s mobilization efforts for the war disproportionately target Indigenous peoples and individuals who recently gained Russian citizenship — mainly migrant workers. According to Katzarova, “this poses an existential threat to some small Indigenous groups due to the heavy military losses they have sustained.” Russia does not disclose the ethnic breakdown of its military casualties, nor does it publish overall casualty figures.
She also pointed out that Indigenous peoples in Russia suffer from some of the lowest life expectancy rates in the country. Despite this, the Russian government continues to reduce subsidies and impose restrictions on their access to support, particularly through the registry of small Indigenous peoples. Katzarova called on the Russian authorities to end the discrimination and violence against Indigenous communities and urged UN member states to support those being persecuted in Russia.
The mandate for the UN Special Rapporteur on Russia was established on October 7, 2022, and is held by Bulgarian human rights advocate and Amnesty International representative Mariana Katzarova. Russia does not recognize this mandate and has denied Katzarova entry into the country.
Sourced from arctida.io