Key facts
- Russia's Supreme Court banned the Yabloko party from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections.
- The ban was based on accusations of campaign violations, including alleged foreign funding and using AI-generated images without permission.
- Yabloko, the only registered party with a pro-peace platform, denies all charges and intends to appeal the ruling.
- The decision limits avenues for expressing anti-war sentiment in Russia, where dissent is increasingly suppressed.
Russia's Supreme Court has banned the liberal Yabloko party from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections, a decision that has drawn criticism from some voters and supporters. The court upheld allegations of campaign violations, including undeclared campaign support from Western sources and using AI-generated images without permission. Yabloko, which advocates for a ceasefire and diplomacy, denies the charges and has vowed to appeal the verdict.
The ruling further limits opportunities for Russians to express opposition to the war in Ukraine at a time when dissent is increasingly suppressed by tightened censorship laws. Yabloko, once a significant liberal force, has historically served as a channel for protest votes without posing a threat to the ruling United Russia party. However, growing war fatigue and anti-war sentiment, amplified on social media, may have contributed to the authorities' decision.
Supporters expressed dismay, with one voter stating it was wrong to bar the party and another preferring that all who wish to run should have equal terms. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Alexei Navalny, suggested the Kremlin could not allow the anti-war majority to express its position through Yabloko.