Russia bars Yabloko from September elections

Russia's Supreme Court on Monday barred the country's only remaining major party openly opposed to the war in Ukraine, Yabloko, from running in September's parliamentary elections. The decision came just weeks before voting begins, leaving Yabloko — a liberal, pro-democracy party founded in 1993 — without a path to parliament for the first time in its history. Around 100 protesters gathered outside the Moscow courthouse immediately after the ruling, holding signs and chanting “Shame! Shame!” in response to what they called an orchestrated effort to silence dissent.

The move fits a broader pattern of political repression in Russia under President Vladimir Putin. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has intensified efforts to eliminate credible opposition voices. Yabloko has been a persistent critic of Putin’s policies, including the war, and has faced escalating legal pressure in recent years. In 2023, party leader Grigory Yavlinsky was barred from running in presidential elections. This year, authorities have repeatedly rejected Yabloko’s candidates on technical grounds, including claims that signatures collected in support of their lists were invalid. Critics say these are politically motivated disqualifications, designed to ensure only loyal parties reach the ballot.

The ban effectively removes the last prominent anti-war voice from the electoral process. Yabloko had campaigned on a platform calling for peace talks and criticized the government’s handling of the conflict. With its disqualification, all five parties currently represented in parliament support Putin’s policies. Independent observers and rights groups say the election is already neither free nor fair, pointing to arrests of activists, censorship of media, and bans on opposition candidates. The European Union and human rights organizations have condemned such repression, but Russia dismisses the criticism as interference in its internal affairs.

What happens next is predictable: September’s vote is expected to deliver another overwhelming victory to Putin’s United Russia party, reinforcing his control. The absence of Yabloko removes even the pretense of political pluralism. For critics, this signals that Putin is tightening his grip ahead of what may be another extended term in power, following constitutional changes allowing him to stay in office until 2036. The move also sends a chilling message to any remaining opposition: challenge the war or the regime, and risk exclusion from the political system entirely.