On Monday, August 10, 2026, Russia’s Supreme Court barred the liberal Yabloko party from contesting the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2026. Yabloko is the only officially registered party in Russia that opposes Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The court’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Rodina, a small pro-Kremlin nationalist party, which accused Yabloko of receiving undeclared campaign support, including from Western sources. The court ruled in favor of Rodina, effectively excluding Yabloko from the election.

Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov denied the allegations during the hearing, stating there was no evidence to support them. He described the case as an unconstitutional attack on freedom of thought by political opponents aiming to eliminate rivals.

This move highlights the Russian authorities’ continued intolerance of anti-war views and further restricts the already limited space for political dissent in the country. Yabloko has announced that it will appeal the decision, urging supporters not to despair.

Sources