2021
A fundamental gap in the understanding of reality between Norilsk Nickel and indigenous peoples
If we look at each of these factors separately: ending the live broadcasting, deleting comments, uploading an unlisted video of the meeting and making it accessible through the direct link only, Ivchenko’s presentation, Shumilova’s presentation, the fact that no indigenous representatives were invited to the meeting, except for the very Anfisa Nikiforova, who is an employee of Norilsk Nickel – they look like coincidences, separate statements of separate individuals. But if we look at these factors cumulatively, they paint a clear picture of Norilsk Nickel managers’ and staff’s worldview and their perception of indigenous peoples. For them, indigenous representatives are not legal subjects. Moreover for Nornickel indigenous peoples are not subjects with specifically indigenous people’s rights, as well as they are not legal persons with general rights living in a specific territory. Dmitry Berezhkov, 01.08.2021 English / Russian
2020
The problem of civil resistance against unlawful environmental decisions in the context of dispersed settlement of the small-numbered indigenous peoples of the Russian North
Nowadays, the information becomes more and more open. The examples of the negative environmental impact in other regions or previous promises made by authorities are accessible to the local communities in a couple of clicks. In these conditions, people do not always rest assured that the strict environmental and the land recultivation promises of the government and business will be complied with in the long-term future. Especially when the local communities see how such obligations are neglected from year to year as it happens, for example, with the coal developments in the Kemerovskaya Oblast. Dmitry Berezhkov, 07.09.2020 – English / Russian
The new constitutional reality for indigenous peoples in Russia
Beside the coronavirus, the Russian civil society continues to discuss new changes in the Russian Constitution that were suggested by Vladimir Putin this spring. This discussion is carried out in several parallel aspects. Parallel to the national debate, the indigenous peoples of the Russian North have their own “lesser” process of discussing the new constitutional reality and, above all, they discuss the content of Article 69 of the Russian Constitution, which for almost three decades has been the foundation of the legal status of the small-numbered indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia, and the Far East. By Dmitry Berezhkov (Arctic Consult, Norway) and Pavel Sulyandziga (Batani Foundation, US) — English / Russian
2019
An impact of corruption on the indigenous peoples rights in Russia
The investigation report “An impact of corruption on the indigenous peoples rights in Russia” has been published by the Arctic Consult (Norway) and the BATANI foundation (USA) in May 2019. The report shows how corruption influences indigenous peoples and their right on self-determination in Tomsk region. Дмитрий Бережков, Павел Суляндзига. К вопросу о покупке государством лояльности представителей коренных народов – Russian
2017
One hundred years of the Sami self-determination in Russia
Russian authorities finance cultural festivals, exhibitions and dance shows of indigenous peoples with pleasure. But the real attitude of the state representatives to indigenous peoples is like the attitude toward to museum items. These items are subjects of public admiration during indigenous festivals. But other time museum exhibits must stay in a depository and time to time they could be extracted for presentations to guests from abroad. By Dmitry Berezhkov, Arctic Consult, 2017 – Russian / English