Moscow Court Silences Last Liberal Anti-War Voice, Bans Yabloko from Parliamentary Election
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In a blatant act of political repression, a Moscow court has barred Yabloko, Russia’s only liberal anti-war party, from participating in next month’s parliamentary election, following a lawsuit riddled with spurious accusations of extremism and financial impropriety.
In a chilling display of authoritarianism, a Moscow court has banned Yabloko, the only party in Russia openly opposing the brutal war in Ukraine, from standing in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The decision, orchestrated by the pro-Kremlin Rodina party, weaponized Russia’s draconian anti-LGBT laws and copyright technicalities to silence dissent. Rodina accused Yabloko of 'supporting extremism' simply for referencing the so-called 'international LGBT movement,' which the regime’s Supreme Court dubiously labeled extremist in 2023, and for quoting a Soviet song.
The eight-hour show trial saw Russia’s financial watchdog parrot the regime’s narrative, alleging Yabloko received foreign funds from Germany and the US—a classic tactic to smear opposition as traitors. The state had already purged Yabloko’s leadership, jailing deputy leader Maxim Kruglov for seven years over social media posts exposing the horrific civilian toll of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Despite the climate of fear, hundreds—many young and hopeful—gathered outside the courthouse, defiantly singing, waving flags, and holding apples, the party’s symbol. Their chants of 'For Yabloko. For freedom' and chalked messages on the pavement were a poignant reminder of the Russian people’s yearning for peace and democracy.
Founded by Grigory Yavlinsky, Yabloko has long stood against Russia’s imperialist wars, from Chechnya to Crimea and now Ukraine. Their platform—demanding a ceasefire, diplomacy, and an end to state terror—has now been forcibly erased from the ballot. The Central Electoral Commission’s initial openness was crushed by the court’s ruling, leaving only parties complicit in the regime’s violence or cowed into silence. The last anti-war voice has been silenced, deepening Russia’s descent into repression.