Indigenous peoples are considered one of the most vulnerable groups in the country. That, of course, remains a domestic issue for Russia, but new problems concerning international politics have arised and put everyday life of populations at risk.
First and foremost, some indigenous peoples are dispersed between different countries, and thus border closures prevent any contacts, be it academic, cultural exchange or simple family communication. For example, the Saami, the Vepsians in the West and the Inuit, the Evenes and the Aleuts in the East of Russia do not have such opportunities anymore.
Experts also point to the difficulties that arise with visas and increased costs of travelling to participate in the United Nations meetings.
As for the available international instruments, they are still not quite adapted for Russian specifics. For example, the basic principle of Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) laid down in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is designed for highly-organised compact populations and, thus, can be hardly applied in Russia. Some critically small populations in the North of the country can be dispersed along hundreds of kilometres.
The unique case of indigenous peoples in Russia is defined by those characteristics. Their development depends on a geographically vast distribution across territories and a complex system of self-sustainability that isn't entirely tied into the economy of the country. And since it has become harder to communicate with the world, negotiations on adapting the universal standards become futile.
And the final point is the mechanism of sanctions. The topic has been raised numerous times in the expert community. The most recent statement concerning sanctions was made on 9th of July, during the 17th Session of an Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).
Sanctions indirectly decrease the quality of life and put the sustainable development of indigenous peoples at risk. For most of them in Siberia and the Far East, for hunting, fishing and reindeer herding, it is vital to use foreign snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and boats, which do not yet have a viable alternative manufactured in Russia. Prices on the vehicles have grown, and repair materials are harder to get.
The contemporary international situation puts indigenous populations in Russia at a risk of assimilation which can in turn result in a loss of the profound cultural heritage and unique languages they possess.
The complexity of this problem, however, is not resolved and will not likely get a quick response from the world community, as it is practically impossible to go for half-measures in this case and overstep the sanctions.
Russia always strives to support the indigenous peoples and leads ongoing expert dialogues, especially in the case of business-to-people relations, but the current international crisis makes the process more and more difficult.
The Editorial Board of the Arctic Century
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