Navalny's widow calls for vote for Yabloko party

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has called on Russians to vote for the Yabloko party in the upcoming September legislative elections. Residing in exile in Germany, Navalnaya stated in a video message that supporting Yabloko is "moral and politically correct" and urged citizens to "frustrate the plans of the Kremlin."

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I believe it is moral and politically correct to support the Yabloko party. This is the time to put aside past differences and help. Let's try to frustrate the Kremlin's plans.

Navalnaya framed the election as a crucial, albeit potentially unfair, opportunity for Russians to legally express their discontent with the current government. She specifically highlighted Yabloko's anti-war stance, positioning it as the sole party opposing the conflict in Ukraine. "We must consider the upcoming elections, however unfair they may be, as the only legal and safe opportunity in many years to express our disagreement with the government," she explained.

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We must consider the upcoming elections, however unfair they may be, as the only legal and safe opportunity in many years to express our disagreement with the government. This can be achieved by voting for a party that adopts an anti-war stance.

The opposition figure encouraged unity among dissenters, asking them to set aside past differences and focus on supporting Yabloko. This call comes as Yabloko, a liberal party active since the 1990s, faces criticism from some pro-government politicians. Sergei Mironov, leader of the A Just Russia party, accused Yabloko of being anti-Russian and betraying the homeland, while also advocating for an end to the conflict in Ukraine and peace negotiations.

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We must not allow that party to use the election campaign for anti-Russian purposes.

Navalnaya's endorsement echoes her husband's past efforts, such as the 'Smart Vote' platform, which aimed to strategically support candidates with the best chance of defeating the ruling United Russia party. Yabloko is campaigning under the slogan 'For Peace and Freedom,' fielding numerous candidates across various electoral districts, despite facing some rejections of its lists by local election commissions in specific municipal assemblies.

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They have often shown themselves, 'covertly or openly, to be traitors to the homeland.'