Russia bans only anti-war party from election

Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov

Russia’s only registered liberal party to openly oppose the war in Ukraine has been barred from next month’s parliamentary elections. A Moscow court ruled against Yabloko after a case brought by the pro-Kremlin nationalist Rodina party, shutting an anti-war voice out of the ballot.

Eight hours of tension ends in a crushing verdict

Hundreds gathered outside the Moscow courthouse as the hearing dragged on for eight hours. Mostly young supporters sang songs, waved flags and carried apples — a symbol of Yabloko — before erupting into chants of “Shame! Shame!” when the verdict emerged.

The case accused Yabloko of supporting an extremist organisation through material on its website concerning the “international LGBT movement”, which Russia’s Supreme Court designated extremist in 2023. Rodina also alleged copyright infringement over a party member quoting lyrics from a Soviet-era song.

The pressure had already been building

Russia’s financial monitoring service separately claimed Yabloko received money through third parties from foreign countries including Germany and the United States. The Kremlin-controlled Central Electoral Commission had approved the party’s candidate list in July, but several senior figures had already been prevented from standing.

Among them was deputy leader Maxim Kruglov, sentenced in June to seven years in prison over social media posts concerning civilian casualties in Ukrainian cities including Bucha and Mariupol. Yabloko was also hit by a cyberattack after launching a campaign fundraising appeal.

Russia’s last anti-war ballot option disappears

Yabloko has not won seats in the State Duma since 2003, but has contested every election since. It has consistently opposed Moscow’s wars, including the Chechen conflict, the annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Its exclusion means the other parties on the ballot either support the war or avoid openly challenging it. With independent election monitoring heavily restricted, the Kremlin faces little organised anti-war opposition inside the electoral system.

A weaker opposition could serve the Kremlin

Yabloko had campaigned on “peace and freedom”, calling for a ceasefire, diplomacy and an end to political repression. Its removal could also affect turnout, particularly among voters seeking an explicit anti-war alternative.

The decision comes as Russia faces economic pressure, inflation, internet blackouts and drone attacks. Even if public dissatisfaction is growing, the Kremlin retains extensive political and electoral machinery to shape the final result.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9w1l5jr7lo

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by bannork