Russia bars only party opposing war in Ukraine from parliamentary vote

Russia's Supreme Court has disqualified the Yabloko party, the nation's sole registered political group openly opposing the war in Ukraine, from contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections. The ruling, delivered Monday, sided with the small pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina, which had filed a suit to annul Yabloko's registration.

Rodina's lawsuit alleged that Yabloko had received undeclared campaign funding, particularly from Western sources. During the hearing, Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov contested these claims, arguing there was no evidence and calling the case an unconstitutional attempt by political rivals to eliminate competition. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse chanting "Shame! Shame!" after the verdict.

Yabloko, meaning "apple" in Russian, is the last liberal party still active in the country, as most of President Vladimir Putin's opponents are either imprisoned, exiled, or deceased. The party has garnered support from exiled opposition figures, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, both of whom are designated as "extremists" in Russia.

Despite the disqualification, Rybakov vowed to appeal the decision, stating, "We have a long way ahead, and we have a big and important task: to stop deaths and bring the peace back." However, Yabloko's electoral prospects have been dim, with a recent poll showing only three percent support, falling short of the five percent threshold required to enter Russia's State Duma. The party has not secured seats in the lower house of parliament since 2003, as the ruling United Russia party, aligned with Putin, has dominated subsequent elections.

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We have a long way ahead, and we have a big and important task: to stop deaths and bring the peace back. Everything we do should be dedicated to that.