A Moscow court has prohibited Yabloko, Russia’s sole registered liberal party opposing the war in Ukraine, from contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Rodina, a pro-Kremlin nationalist party, which accused Yabloko of multiple violations including support for what Russia’s Supreme Court designated as an extremist organization in 2023 and copyright infringement related to a Soviet-era song lyric.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Moscow courthouse during the eight-hour hearing, with many chanting and carrying apples—a reference to the party’s name—to show solidarity. Video footage shared on social media captured the crowd’s reaction when the verdict was announced, with demonstrators expressing disapproval through organized chanting. The hearing provided a rare opportunity for Russians opposed to the war to gather publicly, as protests have been effectively suppressed under wartime censorship laws that carry significant penalties.
Several Yabloko members had already faced restrictions on candidacy prior to the court ruling. Two deputy chairmen and deputy leader Maxim Kruglov, who received a seven-year prison sentence in June for social media posts about civilian casualties in Ukrainian cities, were barred from running. Additionally, the party experienced a cyberattack following the launch of its campaign fundraising appeal.
Yabloko has maintained opposition to Russian military actions since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as well as previous conflicts, positioning itself as Russia’s most consistent anti-war political voice. The party has not secured Duma seats since 2003 but has participated in every election thereafter. With the ruling party United Russia experiencing declining approval ratings amid economic and military concerns, Yabloko’s support had been increasing, though the party received only 1.34 percent of votes in 2021.
The decision removes the only clearly anti-war option from the ballot, as all ten other participating parties either support the conflict or refrain from public criticism. Analysts suggest the exclusion may suppress voter turnout among those dissatisfied with the ruling party, potentially benefiting the Kremlin despite United Russia’s declining ratings. Independent election monitoring organizations have had their oversight capabilities substantially curtailed.
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