Persecuted by Putin Indigenous Sámi people live in fear, say leaders

Sámi people in Russia are being forced to hide their identity and live "outside the law" for fear of imprisonment and persecution, figures from the community have warned, after the government labelled dozens of Indigenous organisations terrorists and extremists.

- Miranda Bryant

In July, Russia's ministry of justice added 55 Indigenous organisations to a list of terrorists and extremists, meaning that representatives of the groups - and anyone who takes part, cooperates or communicates with them - risks being sentenced to years in prison.

It is the latest in a long line of legislation restricting the rights of Indigenous people in Russia, including the introduction of a "register" of Indigenous people.

Many are trying to hide their Sámi identity in an attempt to avoid being targeted by authorities, Sámi activists said, while others are living in exile after seeking asylum in Norway and Finland.

Andrei Danilov, a representative of the Sámi people from the Kola peninsula who sought political asylum in Norway in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said: "Only activists have been persecuted in the past. Now they can imprison everyone who is in contact with them. I would compare this to the period of Soviet repression in the 1930s.

"Many Sámi will hide their nationality. As it was in Soviet times," added Danilov, 53, who lives in a refugee camp in Norway and is unable to work because he does not yet have refugee status.