Russian Court Prevents Only Anti‑War Party from Voting in Parliamentary Election

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:06:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Moscow court bars Yabloko, Russia’s lone opposition party, from contesting the upcoming elections amid accusations of extremist ties and foreign funding.

The Moscow court denied Yabloko permission to run in the next month’s parliamentary polls. The case was filed by pro‑Kremlin Rodina, accusing the party of supporting extremist movements and copyright infringement. Igniting arrest signs and chanting, thousands gathered to protest the ruling, chanting “Shame!” The crackdown follows a series of prosecutions against Yabloko leaders, leaving no true opposition on the ballot and potentially reducing voter turnout among dissenters.

Russian Court Prevents Only Anti‑War Party from Voting in Parliamentary Election

On Monday a Moscow court ruled that Yabloko, Russia’s only registered party openly opposed to its war in Ukraine, will not be allowed to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The decision was brought forward by the pro‑Kremlin nationalist group Rodina, who alleged that Yabloko promoted extremist organisations and engaged in copyright infringement after quoting a Soviet‑era song in an interview. Rodina also claimed that Yabloko received funds through foreign intermediaries from Germany and the United States.

Hundreds of mainly young supporters gathered outside the courthouse, waving apples and chanting slogans. When the verdict was announced, many shouted “Shame!” and lifted signs reading “For Yabloko. For freedom.”

Yabloko has never won a seat in the State Duma since 2003 but has consistently opposed Russian military actions against Chechnya, Crimea and Ukraine. After a cyberattack and the imprisonment of deputy leader Maxim Kruglov in June, the party’s leadership fell under increasing pressure.

The Kremlin’s European‑scented Central Electoral Commission had approved Yabloko’s candidate list in late July, but the court’s ruling now bars them from the ballot, leaving only pro‑war or non‑critical parties to contest. Without a clear opposition candidate, the Kremlin can aim for lower voter turnout, especially from anti‑government sympathisers.

Yabloko’s slogan—“For peace and freedom! For a life without fear”—would have offered a visible alternative to the ruling party, now swallowed by political repression.