Russia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Yabloko party on Monday, upholding the decision to remove the group from the September parliamentary ballot [3].
The ruling effectively eliminates the only registered political party that openly opposes the war in Ukraine from the upcoming elections. This move, combined with the imprisonment of party leadership, signals a further tightening of the Kremlin's grip on domestic political opposition.
In a separate proceeding on the same day, a regional court in Pskov sentenced Yabloko deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg to a penal colony [1]. The court handed down a sentence of more than 11 years [2] following charges related to anti-war statements [1].
Authorities said that the party's anti-war stance constituted a violation of national security and election law [4]. The Supreme Court in Moscow said that the party's position was incompatible with the legal requirements for participation in the parliamentary race [3].
Yabloko has long operated as a liberal opposition force within the Russian system. The party had sought to use the September elections to provide a platform for citizens who oppose the ongoing conflict in Ukraine [4].
The sentencing of Shlosberg in Pskov occurred as part of a broader crackdown on individuals voicing dissent. Legal observers said that the length of the sentence, ranging from 11 to more than 11 years [1, 2], reflects a severe judicial response to political speech.
With the Supreme Court's ruling, Yabloko has no further legal avenues to challenge its exclusion from the ballot [3]. The party now faces the loss of its official platform during a critical election cycle.
“The Supreme Court rejected Yabloko’s appeal and upheld its removal from the September parliamentary ballot.”
The simultaneous removal of Yabloko from the ballot and the heavy sentencing of Lev Shlosberg removes the last legal mechanism for anti-war political organizing in Russia. By utilizing both the Supreme Court and regional courts, the state has closed the gap between administrative election law and criminal prosecution, ensuring that no registered political entity can legally campaign against the war in Ukraine.
