Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday barred the liberal Yabloko party from contesting September’s parliamentary elections, sidelining the only political party that publicly opposes Moscow’s war in Ukraine and deepening a sweeping crackdown on dissent ahead of the vote.
The ruling removes from the ballot the last remaining party in Russia’s political landscape that has openly criticized the Kremlin’s more than four-year military campaign in Ukraine. Yabloko, founded in the 1990s, had long positioned itself as Russia’s primary liberal opposition force, though it has operated under increasing pressure as authorities have systematically eliminated political competition.
The decision comes just weeks before the September 14 parliamentary elections, which are widely expected to cement the dominance of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. With Yabloko removed, no party in the State Duma will offer voters a platform opposing the war, effectively eliminating any formal anti-war voice in Russian legislative politics.
The ban follows a broader pattern of repression targeting war critics. Anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin, who had attempted to run as an independent on a peace platform, was arrested last month on extremism charges and designated a foreign agent. His campaign headquarters was shut down and volunteers were warned against distributing his leaflets, which featured the words ‘for peace.’
Yabloko’s exclusion reflects the Kremlin’s determination to ensure that the parliamentary vote produces no political surprises. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities have shuttered independent media, criminalized anti-war protests, and imprisoned or exiled opposition figures, creating a political environment in which genuine debate is effectively impossible.
The party had previously held several seats in the State Duma and maintained a presence in regional legislatures across Russia. Its removal from the ballot means that voters who oppose the war will have no party-level option to express that position through the electoral system, though analysts note that independent candidates aligned with the Kremlin can still run.
International observers have consistently criticized Russian elections as neither free nor fair, pointing to the absence of genuine opposition, restrictions on media coverage, and the imprisonment of political rivals. The exclusion of Yabloko is expected to draw further condemnation from Western governments and human rights organizations.
Sources: Reuters, NBC News, Washington Post
discussion