Russia's Supreme Court Rejects Yabloko Appeal Over Election Ban
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
On August 17, Russia's Supreme Court rejects an appeal by the Yabloko party against its removal from the ballot for the September 18-20 State Duma elections. The same day, a court in Pskov sentences Yabloko Deputy Chairman Lev Shlosberg to more than 11 years in prison after convicting him under a law used to punish critics of Moscow's war on Ukraine.
Key Facts
- Yabloko is the only officially registered party in Russia to openly oppose Moscow's war on Ukraine.
- The September 18-20 State Duma elections will be the first since President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
- The Central Election Commission registered Yabloko late last month; the Supreme Court barred it on August 10 after a nationalist party alleged foreign funding, copyright infringements, and extremism.
- At least 35 people were detained outside the Supreme Court before the hearing, including actor and Yabloko Duma candidate Viktor Balabanov.
The Supreme Court Ruling
Russia's Supreme Court on August 17 rejected Yabloko's appeal against its removal from the ballot for the September 18-20 State Duma elections. The court had barred the party on August 10 after siding with a nationalist party that alleged violations including foreign funding, copyright infringements, and extremism. Yabloko called the allegations absurd and said it has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court's presidium. Chairman Nikolai Rybakov told the court the case hinged on the state's ability to uphold the rule of law and demanded respect for the constitution and voters' rights. At least 35 people were detained outside the building before the hearing began, including actor and Yabloko Duma candidate Viktor Balabanov.
Shlosberg Sentencing
A court in Pskov on August 17 convicted Yabloko Deputy Chairman Lev Shlosberg under a law designed to punish critics of Russia's war on Ukraine and sentenced him to more than 11 years in prison. Yabloko is the only officially registered party to openly oppose the war and has made the slogan 'For Peace and Freedom' central to its Duma campaign. Co-founder Grigory Yavlinsky said the Supreme Court decision demonstrates 'a fundamental rejection of fair, competitive elections' and 'a serious deepening crisis' in the Russian political system.
State Duma Elections
The September 18-20 State Duma elections will be the first since President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Central Election Commission registered Yabloko late last month, but the Supreme Court removed it from the ballot on August 10. Yabloko said videos shared on social media showed police escorting several young people at the court. Only parties involved in the case and journalists were allowed inside, even though the Supreme Court hearing was supposed to be open to the public. The party has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court's presidium and will do so soon.
4 sources
Russia's Supreme Court Rejects Yabloko Appeal Over Election Ban
