Russia's Supreme Court bans Yabloko party from parliamentary elections
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Russia's Supreme Court has banned the liberal, anti-war Yabloko party from participating in parliamentary elections. The ruling follows a surge in the party's popularity and mounting pressure on its leaders. More than 30 supporters were detained outside the court during the appeal process.
Key Facts
- Russia's Supreme Court banned the Yabloko party from parliamentary elections on August 17, 2026.
- Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov called the ruling 'a parody of judicial process' and said the party was removed because it stands for peace and freedom.
- The ban was based on a lawsuit by the Rodina party accusing Yabloko of promoting the 'international LGBT movement' and copyright infringement.
- More than 30 Yabloko supporters were detained outside the court during the appeal process.
- Polls showed Yabloko could surpass the 5% threshold to win Duma seats, challenging the Kremlin's image of nationwide support.
The Ban
Russia's Supreme Court banned the Yabloko party from participating in parliamentary elections on August 17, 2026. The ruling came after the Rodina party filed a lawsuit accusing Yabloko of publishing materials supporting the 'international LGBT movement' and of copyright infringement. The copyright claim stemmed from a senior party member publicly quoting lyrics from the Soviet-era song 'May There Always Be Sunshine'. Yabloko appealed the ban on August 17, but the Supreme Court rejected the appeal. More than 30 supporters were detained outside the court during the appeal process.
Party Reaction
Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov told supporters outside the court: 'This is a parody of judicial process. The court did not examine the merits of the case.' Rybakov added: 'Yabloko was removed from the elections because we stand for peace and freedom.' The party's deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg was previously sentenced to 11 years and 1 month in prison on charges of 'discrediting' the military and spreading 'false information'. More than a dozen Yabloko politicians have been arrested on extremism charges.
Political Context
Yabloko, founded in 1993, has never held seats in the Duma. The party expelled Alexei Navalny in 2007 but gained popularity among young people for its anti-war stance. Supporters posted videos holding apples, since 'Yabloko' means 'apple' in Russian. Polls showed Yabloko could surpass the 5% threshold to win Duma seats. United Russia's approval rating fell to 33%, the worst since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, amid fuel shortages and economic problems.
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Russia's Supreme Court bans Yabloko party from parliamentary elections
