Crimean Tatar Expert Mamutov Appointed to UN Indigenous Rights Body, Replacing Russian Representative

Suleiman Mamutov, a Crimean Tatar expert from Ukraine, was appointed to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and the Caucasus region in 2022. His appointment to the key UN body that addresses indigenous peoples' rights represented a diplomatic success for Ukraine, as he replaced a representative from the Russian Federation. Mamutov has been reappointed to serve as an expert on the forum in 2025. The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is a crucial organ within the UN system dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous populations worldwide. Mamutov's background as a Crimean Tatar adds particular significance to his role, given that Crimean Tatars are an indigenous people of Crimea who have faced persecution under Russian occupation since 2014.