Russia's Supreme Court on Monday annulled the registration of Yabloko, the only officially registered party that opposes Moscow's war in Ukraine, for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The decision, which removes the party from the ballot for the State Duma vote scheduled for 18–20 September, follows a lawsuit filed on 7 August by the pro-Kremlin nationalist Rodina party.
Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov, speaking outside the court in Moscow, said there were “no grounds at all” for the removal. He noted that the Central Election Commission had unanimously approved the party's registration on 29 July, and that the Justice Ministry had repeatedly inspected Yabloko without finding any illegal activity. He described Rodina's claims as “unsubstantiated and groundless.”
Dozens of supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court building to show solidarity with Yabloko, which had campaigned under the slogan “For peace and freedom.” Its election programme, just 43 words long, called for “a ceasefire agreement, diplomacy, and the achievement of peace!”
Accusations from rival parties
Rodina's leader, State Duma deputy Alexei Zhuravlyov, argued that “lawyers have found numerous violations” in Yabloko's campaign, including “foreign funding that does not go through the account” and “extensive activity on banned social networks, which is financed from the West.” He also accused the party of extremism, citing its call for peace.
Yabloko faced criticism from other political forces as well. Gennady Zyuganov, head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, blamed the party for not supporting “the policy of strengthening Russian statehood” and for never condemning the actions of the Ukrainian authorities. Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) called for Yabloko to be designated an undesirable organisation because it proposed peace talks with Kyiv. Sergei Mironov, leader of A Just Russia, suggested that the Justice Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office should scrutinise Yabloko for opposing the “special military operation” and supporting foreign agents.
The ruling effectively sidelines the only liberal voice in the election, raising questions about the Kremlin's tolerance for dissent. Some analysts had speculated that Yabloko's registration was a deliberate move by the authorities to channel public discontent into a controlled outlet. A source close to the Central Election Commission told the investigative outlet Important Stories that the logic might be to give citizens a way to “vent” their frustration, rather than spoiling ballots or voting for the Communist Party.
Political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky, quoted by Radio Liberty, suggested that Yabloko's low official result could be presented as the share of Russians who oppose the war. Another theory, advanced by regional politics expert Alexander Kynev on social media, holds that Yabloko was allowed to run to siphon votes away from the increasingly popular New People party.
The decision comes amid a broader crackdown on opposition voices in Russia. Earlier this year, the authorities designated several independent media outlets as foreign agents, and prominent critics have been jailed or forced into exile. The removal of Yabloko from the ballot is likely to further narrow the space for political opposition ahead of the vote.
Yabloko's exclusion also highlights the challenges facing any party that openly questions the war. While the party had been registered for the election, its campaign was already under pressure, with authorities blocking its website and social media accounts. The Supreme Court's ruling now makes it impossible for Yabloko to participate, leaving voters with no anti-war option on the ballot.
The elections, which include regional and municipal votes alongside the Duma race, are expected to deliver a comfortable majority for the ruling United Russia party. With Yabloko out, the remaining opposition parties—the Communist Party, LDPR, and A Just Russia—have all voiced support for the war, albeit with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
International reaction has been muted, but the move is likely to be seen as further evidence of Russia's shrinking democratic space. As the war in Ukraine continues, the Kremlin appears determined to ensure that the parliamentary election offers no platform for those who question its policies.
