Russia’s top court has ruled to exclude the sole party opposing the Kremlin’s military intervention in Ukraine from the upcoming parliamentary election ballot. The Supreme Court invalidated the registration of Yabloko, a party that had been permitted to run by the Central Election Commission alongside 10 other parties. Yabloko, once a significant liberal voice critical of the government, lost its parliamentary seats as the Kremlin strengthened its control over Russian politics. The party, known for opposing the deployment of troops to Ukraine, had campaign slogans advocating for peace, diplomacy, and freedom from fear and repression.
Veteran politician Grigory Yavlinsky, a co-founder of Yabloko, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and announced plans to appeal. Yavlinsky emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue with those challenging the authorities and called for peace, freedom, and a fearless life. The party had received support from various figures in exile, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, as well as opposition politicians Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Yabloko’s chairman, Nikolai Rybakov, distanced the party from support offered by Navalnaya and other Kremlin adversaries living abroad, aiming to prevent its removal from the ballot. Despite initial permission to participate in the election, Yabloko’s anti-war campaign resonated with the public, disrupting the Kremlin’s expectations. Political analyst Nikolay Petrov noted that the decision to exclude Yabloko reflects the authorities’ apprehension towards the party’s stance on international conflicts.
Kremlin-aligned parties criticized Yabloko for its opposition to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with some calling for investigations into the party. The Motherland Party initiated the legal action to remove Yabloko from the ballot, citing allegations of copyright infringement, campaign spending violations, and undermining Russia’s territorial integrity. Yabloko’s representatives denied these accusations during the Supreme Court proceedings.
Yabloko has faced escalating pressure from the Kremlin, with key members being imprisoned or labeled as “foreign agents” in a government crackdown on dissent. Prominent party members, including Maxim Kruglov and Lev Shlosberg, have been targeted with criminal charges and sentences, while others, like Boris Vishnevsky, have been designated as “foreign agents,” leading to their exclusion from public office and electoral participation.