A/HRC/15/37/Add.5 I. Introduction 1. In this report the Special Rapporteur examines the human rights situation of indigenous people in the Russian Federation, on the basis of research and information gathered, including during a visit to the Russian Federation from 4 to 16 October 2009. The visit followed requests by various indigenous peoples’ organizations throughout the country and was carried out with the cooperation of the Government of the Russian Federation, which took the initiative to arrange almost all aspects of the agenda for the visit. 2. During his visit to the Russian Federation, the Special Rapporteur consulted with Government officials, indigenous peoples and their organizations, representatives of the United Nations and members of civil society. In Moscow, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with officials from the Committee on Nationalities Issues of the State Duma, the Committee on Northern Territories and Indigenous Peoples Issues of the Council of the Federation, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Civic Chamber. He also held consultations with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and with members of the United Nations country team in the Russian Federation. In addition, the Special Rapporteur met with regional government officials in Khanty-Mansiysk, Beloyarsk, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk. 3. The Special Rapporteur met with representatives of various indigenous organizations at the national and regional levels, including the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) and several of its regional affiliates; L’auravetl’an Information and Education Network of Indigenous Peoples (LIENIP); the “Salvation of Yugra” regional association of indigenous peoples; Krasnoyarsk Regional Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North; and other non-governmental organizations, including the Krasnoyarsk branch of the Red Cross. 4. The Special Rapporteur conducted field trips to Kazym Village and to the patrimonial land of an indigenous family in the Beloyarsk Municipal District of KhantyMansiysky Autonomous Region; Surinda Village and the nearby “Surindinskiy” collective reindeer farm in the Evenkiya Municipality of Krasnoyarsky Krai, or region,; and the villages of Sikachi-Alyan and Sinda in Khabarovsky Krai. During these trips he consulted with municipal government officials, hospital and school administrators, indigenous people, and members of civil society. 5. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government of the Russian Federation, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Development, to the regional governments of Khanti-Mansiysky Autonomous Region, Krasnoyarsky Krai, and Khabarovsky Krai; and also to indigenous peoples’ organizations, for the support they provided for the visit. The Special Rapporteur was unable to visit all of the places he had hoped to, although he was able to visit a number of locations across the vast territory of the Russian Federation. Additionally, while his meetings with a wide range of Government officials at the federal and regional levels were useful, he would have preferred to have more direct encounters with the indigenous communities. Nevertheless, he has endeavoured to obtain a balanced picture of the situation of indigenous peoples in the country. 6. By a note of 19 March 2010, the Special Rapporteur submitted to the Government a preliminary version of the present report and, on 6 May 2010, received comments from the Government. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the Government for its comments, which have been taken into account in the preparation of the final version of this report. 4 GE.10-14779