Moscow Court Bars Russia's Only Anti-War Party from Parliamentary Elections
Yabloko, the sole registered party to oppose Russia’s war on Ukraine, was barred from standing in the parliamentary elections by a Moscow court. The ruling followed a lawsuit by the pro‑Kremlin nationalist Rodina party, which accused Yabloko of supporting extremist organisations and of infringing on copyrights.
Hundreds of supporters – mostly young – gathered outside the courthouse on Monday, chanting and waving flags and carrying apples in a silent protest when the court’s verdict was announced. Social media videos captured the crowd chanting 'Shame! Shame!' after learning the decision.
The court cited allegations that Yabloko had published material supporting the 'international LGBT movement', which Russia’s Supreme Court declared extremist in 2023, and that a senior Yabloko member had quoted the lyrics of the Soviet‑era song 'Let there always be sunshine' in an interview. Furthermore, the court claimed Yabloko had received foreign funding from Germany and the United States through third‑party channels.
Yabloko had already faced several setbacks: the Central Electoral Commission had approved its candidate list in late July, but key party members were barred from running, including deputy chairs and leader Maxim Kruglov, who received a seven‑year sentence in June for posts about civilian casualties in Ukraine. In recent weeks Yabloko also suffered a cyber‑attack following a donation drive for its election campaign fund.
The party had campaigned with slogans such as 'For peace and freedom! For a life without fear!' and advocated for a ceasefire, diplomacy, and a Russia free of fear and political repression.
With United Russia’s popularity declining amid inflation, internet blackouts and drone strikes, Yabloko’s support had been surging. The Kremlin’s decision to exclude the party may be intended to dampen voter turnout among those critical of the war, ensuring a low‑turnout election favourable to its interests. All ten other parties participating in the election either support the war or remain silent on the matter. Independent election watchdogs have been stripped of many of their monitoring powers, further eroding transparency.
