Recommendation 117

Geopolitical tensions between Russia and the Arctic Seven have also led to a sharp reduction in cross-border contacts between indigenous peoples in Russia and the other Arctic states. In April 2022, the transnational Saami Council suspended formal relations with Russia’s two internationally recognised Sami organisations, the Kola Sami Association and the Association of Sami in Murmansk Oblast, after their members publicly endorsed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.