This side event presents new research on extractive industries in Indigenous territories of the Russian Federation, focusing on the republics of Sakha, Tuva, and Buryatia. The report traces how global corporate structures—linking Russian resource projects to companies registered in the UK, Sweden, and Cyprus—enable a system of modern resource colonialism that externalizes profits while silencing Indigenous voices.
Case studies, including Nordgold in Sakha, reveal how extraction drives environmental degradation, repression of Indigenous activists, and the erosion of local governance. The findings highlight the need for constitutional and legal reforms, including the institutionalization of FPIC, recognition of all Indigenous nations, and protection of human rights defenders.
The discussion will explore how international due diligence mechanisms and Indigenous-led monitoring can strengthen accountability and challenge the global networks sustaining exploitation.