Russia's Supreme Court bars opposition party Yabloko from State Duma ballot
The Supreme Court removed Yabloko from the upcoming parliamentary ballot after a lawsuit by the Rodina party, amid claims the move is politically motivated and intended to limit anti-war votes.
Russia’s Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 10 that the liberal opposition party Yabloko cannot appear on the State Duma ballot, siding with a complaint filed by the far-right Rodina party. Yabloko, which last cleared the 5 % electoral threshold in 1999, has struggled in recent elections, receiving 3.43 % in 2011, 1.34 % in 2021 and none in the 2024 presidential race. The party retains regional representation in St. Petersburg, Pskov and Karelia, which exempts it from collecting signatures for federal lists.
In recent months, several Yabloko figures have been labeled “foreign agents” or “terrorists and extremists,” barring them from running. Party chairman Nikolai Rybakov and other members have faced administrative convictions, and prominent regional politicians have been detained on charges of spreading “false information” about the army.
Rodina accused Yabloko of procedural violations and alleged foreign funding; Yabloko called the accusations unfounded and politically driven. LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky also urged that Yabloko be declared an “undesirable organization.”
According to insiders, the party’s presence on the ballot was expected to siphon anti-war votes from the Communist Party, which traditionally benefits from protest voters. Private polls cited by sources close to the presidential administration placed Yabloko’s support at around 5-6 % nationally and higher in Moscow and St. Petersburg, prompting officials to view its removal as a way to prevent a sixth faction in the Duma.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Rybakov emphasized Yabloko’s goals of preserving human life and achieving a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict, while supporters gathered outside the court. A source close to the Kremlin indicated that the president’s approval is required for ballot composition, suggesting the decision aligns with broader strategic interests.
"We go by the weekly polls from the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, which for two years now has put Yabloko at 3 % among all respondents and 4 % among those who have made up their minds," a Yabloko source told a media outlet.
The court’s decision effectively eliminates the party’s chance to attract anti-war voters in the September election.