Russia's Yabloko Party Faces Election Ban Ahead of Duma Vote

Published Aug 10, 04:25 PM UTC

The liberal Russian opposition party Yabloko (Apple Party) is likely to be barred from participating in the September 18-20 Duma elections, following a Supreme Court hearing on August 10, 2026. The lawsuit, filed by the Kremlin-loyal Rodina party, accuses Yabloko of intellectual property violations, campaign finance irregularities, and support for the 'international LGBTQIA+ movement,' which is classified as extremist in Russia. Judge Vyacheslav Kirilov, known for previous rulings against opposition figures, presided. Yabloko is the only party advocating for an immediate end to Russia's war in Ukraine. The party has faced regional registration cancellations, criminal prosecutions of 14 members, and death threats against candidate Kirill Rumyantsev. Observers expect the court to rule against Yabloko, continuing a pattern of suppressing dissent.

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