Russian courts disqualify more opposition candidates from pacifist Yabloko party

Russian courts continue to sideline opposition voices, with the latest move disqualifying 44 regional candidates from the Yabloko party. The party, known for its anti-war stance on Ukraine, sees these actions as a direct attempt to suppress political dissent ahead of the September legislative elections.

The Pskov regional court's decision, citing a formal defect in submitting a power of attorney, was immediately decried by party leader Nikolay Rybakov as "ridiculous." He linked the ruling to the party's push for a ceasefire in Ukraine, suggesting authorities fear a public desire for peace that cannot be controlled through electoral manipulation.

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ridiculous

Yabloko itself labeled the ruling "illegal, unfounded, and adopted with the aim of eliminating political adversaries through dishonest means." This disqualification is not an isolated incident; it marks the fourth region where the party's candidate lists have been invalidated, following similar actions in Leningrad, Karelia, and St. Petersburg. The party has seen its candidate numbers plummet from 412 in June to just over 80 across more than half the country's regions.

These legal challenges significantly diminish Yabloko's prospects of entering the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. While the Central Election Commission initially registered Yabloko's federal list, the Supreme Court later revoked it, citing alleged foreign funding and copyright violations. The party's difficulties mirror those of other opposition figures, with prominent members of other parties also facing disqualification. The article notes a broader trend of declining popularity for the current Russian leadership, with polls indicating a dip in public approval, a situation exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, internet blockages, and fuel shortages.

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illegal, unfounded, and adopted with the aim of eliminating political adversaries through dishonest means