Russia's election commission approves ruling party candidates, rejects opposition

Russia's Central Election Commission has approved the candidate lists for the ruling United Russia party ahead of the September legislative elections, amidst a crackdown on opposition voices critical of the war in Ukraine. The party secured approval for 390 candidates on party lists and an additional 224 candidates in electoral districts, allowing them to open bank accounts and fund their campaigns.

Despite the approval for the Kremlin's party, independent polls indicate that United Russia might secure less than 30% of the vote, a figure that could jeopardize its constitutional majority. Analysts suggest that a low voter turnout, a common occurrence in Russian elections, could ultimately benefit United Russia.

The party's projected decline in polls is attributed to several factors linked to the war in Ukraine, including a severe fuel supply crisis. This situation has also contributed to an unprecedented 5% drop in President Vladimir Putin's approval ratings.

Meanwhile, Yabloko, the only legally recognized opposition party, faces significant hurdles in presenting its candidates. One candidate, Tatiana Pasman, was disqualified from the Pskov region for allegedly displaying Nazi symbolism on her Facebook page. Yabloko refuted the claim, stating the link was about the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and that Pasman, an activist investigating the Holocaust, was not the author. Another Yabloko regional deputy was fined, a tactic also used to disqualify former presidential hopeful Boris Nadezhdin for sharing a link featuring the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Yabloko reported that the St. Petersburg election commission also flagged documentation issues for three other candidates. The party argues that the registration process is being manipulated to eliminate political opponents, warning that such actions could undermine the legitimacy of the vote. Numerous Yabloko candidates, including the party's leader, are barred from running due to convictions, fines, or being labeled extremists or foreign agents, often for posting images of Navalny or criticizing Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. President Putin, who had not led United Russia's campaign since 2007, launched the official campaign last week with the slogan 'Everything for Victory,' in a context marked by a lack of battlefield successes and economic difficulties.

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The registration process cannot become a criminal instrument to eliminate political opponents.