Russian Court Blocks Only Anti-War Party from Parliamentary Elections

A Moscow court has ruled that Russia's only registered political party opposed to the war in Ukraine will not be permitted to contest next month's parliamentary elections. The decision bars the liberal Yabloko party from participating, a move that has drawn criticism from supporters who gathered outside the courthouse.

The case against Yabloko was initiated by Rodina, a nationalist party widely seen as aligned with the Kremlin. Rodina accused Yabloko of publicly supporting an extremist organisation by publishing material in support of the 'international LGBT movement' on its website. Russia's Supreme Court designated this movement as extremist in 2023. The plaintiffs also alleged copyright infringement, after a senior party member quoted lyrics from a Soviet-era song, 'Let there always be sunshine,' in an interview.

During the hearing, Russia's financial monitoring service further claimed that Yabloko had received funds from third parties in foreign countries, including Germany and the United States. These allegations were presented as part of the legal challenge against the party.

Observers note that the Central Electoral Commission had approved Yabloko's candidate list in late July. However, by that time, several party members had already been barred from running. This included two deputy chairmen and deputy leader Maxim Kruglov, who was sentenced in June to seven years' imprisonment for social media posts concerning civilian casualties in Bucha, Mariupol, and other Ukrainian cities. The party also reported a cyberattack last week, soon after launching a donations appeal for its election campaign fund.

Yabloko has campaigned under the slogan 'For peace and freedom! For a life without fear!' and has advocated for a ceasefire, diplomacy, and peace, as well as for a Russia free from fear and political repression. Its platform stands in contrast to the dominant political discourse in the country, which has largely supported the ongoing conflict.

Outside the Moscow courthouse on Monday, hundreds of people, mostly very young, had gathered in support of Yabloko, singing songs and waving flags. When news of the verdict spread through the crowd, many began chanting 'Shame! Shame!' as videos posted on social media show.

The ruling effectively removes the only anti-war voice from the parliamentary electoral process, narrowing the range of political options available to Russian voters. Legal experts say the case reflects a broader pattern of restrictive measures against opposition groups in recent years. The Kremlin has not commented on the court's decision.