The head of Russia’s sole officially recognized anti-war party has affirmed his decision to remain in the country and continue advocating for change, despite escalating pressure from the authorities that resulted in the party’s disqualification from the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling excluded the post-Soviet liberal party Yabloko, meaning “apple” in Russian, from the September polls. Leader Nikolai Rybakov expressed to Reuters that the authorities were troubled by the party’s call to end the over four-year-long conflict in Ukraine, which resonated with voters.
Rybakov emphasized that the support from the people, evident and unabashed, outweighed the court’s verdict. Following the ruling, hundreds of supporters outside the court premises vocally protested, chanting “shame” loud enough to be heard indoors. Once a prominent liberal voice in parliament and a government critic, Yabloko now holds only a few regional seats and lacks representation in the State Duma, predominantly led by the Putin-backed United Russia party.
While United Russia is poised to maintain its dominance in the upcoming election, Rybakov asserted that Yabloko would present a stronger-than-anticipated challenge if permitted to participate. Yabloko is currently appealing the Supreme Court’s decision, which stemmed from allegations, including undisclosed campaign backing from Western sources, among other charges refuted by the party.
In his office, Rybakov conveyed that this was just the start, with more individuals beginning to take notice. Despite stringent censorship laws and wartime regulations prompting many opposition figures and activists to flee or face prosecution, the 47-year-old opposition stalwart affirmed his commitment to remain in Russia, citing the necessity to effect change from within the country.
Public sentiment against the war is challenging to gauge due to stringent control over dissent. However, according to the Levada Center, a non-governmental pollster on Moscow’s foreign agent list, the proportion of Russians endorsing their armed forces’ actions in Ukraine dipped to 66% in July, marking the lowest level since February 2022. Rybakov highlighted that Yabloko’s concise manifesto advocating for peace and a vibrant democratic Russia had garnered a surge in new supporters, reflecting a substantial segment of society desiring an end to the conflict.
Despite efforts to hinder Yabloko’s presence, Rybakov underscored that millions of like-minded individuals shared the party’s stance, beyond the authorities’ control. Social media platforms buzzed with videos backing Yabloko, showcasing individuals holding apples as a symbolic gesture of their voting preference for the forthcoming election or dancing to Russian tunes referencing apples.