Sami politician arrested in Russia

Andrei Danilov, a Sami politician and director of the Saami Heritage and Development Fund was arrested on Sunday, 29 by Russian police when he was attending the Imandra Viking Festival in the Murmansk region. Indigenous Russia reported. 

Andrei Danilov is member of the Sami Council

Indigenous News of the World understands that Mr Danilov was arrested after he refused police researched his belongings without a witness and filmed the incident with his mobile phone.

In August 2020, the indigenous Russian politician was one of the leaders of the #AnswerUSElonMusk international campaign. 

We are very concerned about the safety of Andrei Danilov, who was arrested yesterday. Police arrested him after he filmed them searching his bags at a Viking festival. We are monitoring the incident from Bern and demand his immediate release! https://t.co/KxDzT3JPaA

— GfbV Schweiz (@gfbv_ch) August 30, 2021

Organisations such as Gfbv is demanding the immediate release of Mr Danilov.

The global campaign was launched to persuade Elon Musk, one of the richest men in the world and CEO of Tesla stopped buying goods from Norilsk Nicked Company, which is accused of violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Taimyr and Murmansk regions. 

Between 50,000 to 100,000 Sami people live in Sweden, Finland and Russia. 

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