Russian Arctic oil exploration and its impact on indigenous communities: the case of the Norilsk oil spill

Abstract

By applying the 2020 Norilsk oil spill as a case study, this thesis investigates how effectively international legal frameworks safeguard indigenous rights in the Arctic. The research finds accountability gaps in protecting indigenous communities from environmental harm brought on by industrial activities by examining the applicability of the ARSIWA, the UNCLOS, and the ECHR. Thesis demonstrates that although these frameworks establish the foundation for state accountability, they are insufficient to address how environmental degradation, corporate responsibility, and indigenous rights intersect. In addition, the Handölsdalen Sami Villages v. Sweden case serves as a comparative analysis that highlights the procedural obstacles that indigenous communities encounter when trying to obtain legal remedies by comparing indigenous communities in Norilsk and in Sami Villages.