Utoo Radio With Other News Sources - January 13, 2025 - The Russian Ministry of Justice has added over 50 indigenous organizations to its list of terrorists and extremists, targeting the Saami people, who have inhabited the Lapland region for thousands of years.

The Saami people, known for their nomadic lifestyle and reindeer herding, have faced numerous repressions and attacks, similar to the Inuit and the Saami people in North America.

In July 2024, the Russian Ministry of Justice added 55 indigenous organizations to its list of terrorists and extremists, allowing their representatives and anyone who contacts them to be sentenced to prison.

Andrei Danilov, a representative of the Saami, argues that community activists can be sentenced to at least six years in prison, and the people have no means to defend their rights against the regime.

The government's actions may be related to the preparations for lithium deposits in the Fedorovya tundra, which is particularly important for the Saami people.