Human Rights Violations in the Sakha Republic
October 2025
ABSTRACT
The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) experienced a series of unprecedented violations, primarily of political rights. Additionally, authorities are censoring the media and repressing protests.
Violations of Political Rights
Despite public protests, the Sakha (Yakutia) authorities confirmed their intention to cancel direct elections in their districts and towns at the beginning of the month. Candidates will now be nominated by the head of the Republic himself, or by an electoral commission under his control. More troubling is that the Moscow-appointed head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is not even Yakut.
In an interview on October 8, the head of the Republic’s government administration commented that elections should be canceled because they “divide society.” Most notably, during the September elections, the United Russia party lost four districts. (1)
Amid protests against the cancellation of the town elections, the mayor of Olemkinsk resigned early to allow residents to hold one last poll before the changes take effect. However, on October 6, several Olemkinsk deputies prevented a quorum from being established to set an early election date. (2)
In addition to canceling the elections, the head of the Republic proposed several other amendments to the Constitution of the Sakha Republic, significantly expanding his power, including the right to dissolve the government and to sell precious metals and stones from the Yakutia State Treasury.
Citizens’ rights in Yakutia, on the contrary, are being curtailed. The right of children to compulsory secondary education is being revoked. The provision requiring the head of the Republic to admit public figures is being removed. Local authorities are being stripped of their rights to manage mineral deposits, municipal property, and finances. (3), (4)
The public called these proposals Anti-People and spoke out against them. (5), (6)
On October 22, the parliament of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) adopted the proposed amendments in three readings in a single day, thereby violating the rules. Alternative amendments proposed by opposition parties were never even considered. (7), (8)
By such actions, the Yakutia authorities systematically violate Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
(1) https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50044
(2) https://t.me/vyakutiaru/119168
(3) https://telegra.ph/Kak-glava-YAkutii-perepisyvaet-Konstituciyu-bolshe-vlasti-dlya-nego-menshe-prav-dlya-grazhdan-10-14
(4) https://semnasem.org/articles/2025/10/14/konstituciya-yakutii
(5) https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50069
(6) https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50252
(7) https://t.me/bo_kanal/23420
(8) https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50323
Violations of Freedom of Speech and Censorship in the Media
On October 13, Nurguyana Zamorshchikova appealed to the Chairperson of the Il Tumen (State Assembly of Sakha-Yakutia), citing the refusal of Yakutia’s state media to report on the work of the New People Party and the political positions of all deputies in the Il Tumen parties, which differ from those of United Russia.It was also noted that the media distorts the work of other parties to benefit United Russia.
The inalienable right to freedom of speech under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was violated.
https://t.me/za_nuyrguyana/711
Concealment of Impending Teachers and Doctors’ Mass Layoffs
The Yakutia Federation of Trade Unions demanded that the Republic’s government authorities disclose and release details on the sweeping layoffs of key public-sector workers.
The Minister of Finance in Yakutia responded by urging trade unions not to “escalate the situation,” even as many uluses (districts) have already announced the impending layoffs.
https://t.me/Torboznoe_radio/14110
Social Transport Halt
Due to funding constraints, Polar Airlines suddenly suspended service on communal routes. For a month, several dozen residents were unable to return to their village in Taymylyr from Tiksi. As reported by the media, some residents even attempted to cross the Laptev Sea by boat, but later became stuck by ice floes near the shore. When the case reached the prosecutor’s office, the people were finally able to fly home.
Yakut Man With No Criminal Record Died During Detention
Vladimir Gaidai, a ferry worker in Yakutsk, was detained without cause. He had no criminal record, had no history of illegal activity, was not an abusive drinker, and did not resist arrest. Vladimir’s family was never told why law enforcement detained him. They described him as a gentle and kind person. He died five hours after his arrest. According to the authorities, he died “of poisoning by an unknown substance.”
Yakut Organized Rally Against Anti-People Held For 10 Days
Mikhail Koryakin, a “veteran” in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, voiced out against the Anti-People measures introduced by the authorities in his native Republic. He was attempting to organize a rally against the new amendments by publishing a video on his Telegram channel. While the constitutional amendments were adopted despite violating the regulations for passage after only receiving three readings in a single day, Mikhail Koryakin was nevertheless convicted of organizing an unauthorized rally (Part 2, Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Thus, by its decision, the court violated Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.