Established on August 2022, the Free Yakutia Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to anti-war efforts. It was founded by a group of passionate activists from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in direct opposition to the Russian Federation's military actions in Ukraine.
To build a politically engaged civil society in the Republic of Sakha, liberated from the corruption and clan-based politics that stifle its peoples' development. We are committed to the universally recognized ideals of democracy and pursue our goals through strictly peaceful means, holding human life as the highest value.
To break through state-controlled information barriers by delivering reliable news and educational resources to the people of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
To build a powerful media presence across social networks, creating compelling content that actively counters the narratives of the Putin regime and its propaganda machine.
To equip citizens with essential legal knowledge, providing them with the tools and confidence to defend their rights.
To drive the conversation on decolonization, fostering a new way of thinking that liberates individuals from a legacy of colonial obedience.
To defend the environment of the Republic of Sakha by exposing destructive corporate practices and mobilizing public action
To dismantle systemic racism and xenophobia in Russia. We achieve this by unapologetically exposing the truth and educating communities on how to actively practice anti-racism in their everyday lives.
We organise both in-person and online protests against the war and mobilisation. A notable example is the peaceful anti-war, anti-mobilisation women's protest held by the Foundation in Yakutsk on September 25, 2022, which drew over 500 women from the Republic of Sakha.
Our foundation conducts investigations into military contract recruitment practices. In November 2023, we released leaked videos from closed-door meetings of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) that exposed their methods for recruiting Yakutians into the war against Ukraine. The findings from our investigation were later used by the Conflict Intelligence Team to extrapolate data across all of Russia.
We provide comprehensive assistance to political prisoners and those affected by political repression, including help with relocation. Our efforts include:
Actively publicizing administrative and criminal cases to raise awareness.
Offering initial consultations with the Foundation's volunteer lawyers.
Fundraising to pay for fines and cover legal fees for anti-war activists.
We actively collaborate with other anti-war movements in Russia, including those from other national regions, by holding joint meetings and decolonial conferences. We also organize anti-war actions with members of the Yakutian diaspora living abroad.
Furthermore, we have participated in broader Russian anti-war civil initiatives, including events in Berlin, Germany (December 2022) and Brussels, Belgium (December 2023).