Supreme Court Bars Yabloko From September Ballot
Russia’s highest court has barred the anti-war opposition party Yabloko from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections.
The ruling was delivered by presiding judge Vyacheslav Kirillov. It upholds a lawsuit brought by the pro-Kremlin party Rodina, blocking Yabloko candidates from competing in the vote scheduled for September 18 to 20.
Copyright Claims and Extremism Accusations
Rodina filed the legal challenge against Yabloko. The pro-Kremlin party accused its rival of infringing copyright with its election campaign materials, engaging in extremist activities, and receiving illegal foreign financing.
The verdict came down following a grueling nine-hour court session.
Kirillov has a history of high-stakes rulings. He previously banned the Russian human rights organization Memorial and designated it as an extremist organization in April, and also dismissed legal complaints filed by the late opposition politician Alexei Navalny against the Russian prison service.
Supporters Gather Outside as Police Issue Enlistment Threats
Outside the Supreme Court building, at least 500 people gathered to support Yabloko during the proceedings. Supporters handed out apples and sang songs.
The party’s name has deep roots. It derives from the Russian word for apple and the initials of its three founders, Grigory Yavlinsky, Yury Boldyrev, and Vladimir Lukin.
The mood turned tense as the hearing concluded. Security services threatened the crowd with arrest and warned young men present that they could be taken to an army enlistment office.
Leadership Vows Appeal Against Political System’s Fear
Nikolai Rybakov, the leader of Yabloko, condemned the ruling in a statement posted to Telegram. “You are mistaken if you believe that, with a stroke of a pen, you can write off millions of people who want peace, freedom and a normal future for their country,” Rybakov wrote, confirming the party would appeal the judgment.
Co-founder Grigory Yavlinsky argued that the ruling exposed the political system’s fear of a platform advocating for peace and freedom without fear.
Exiled Figures Urged Voters to Back Anti-War Platform
The court battle coincided with a major push from the broader opposition. An appeal from exiled Russian opposition and cultural figures—including Yulia Navalnaya, Lyubov Sobol, Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov, Dmitry Bykov, and Oleg Orlov—urged voters to support Yabloko.
Navalnaya stated on Telegram that the Kremlin initially intended to let Yabloko run, but grew alarmed when citizens began uniting to express their true stance on President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.
Political activist Andrei Pivovarov noted that while the opposition did not expect participation to immediately halt the war, the campaign aimed to make the scale of anti-war sentiment visible on the ballot.
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