Russia’s Supreme Court has upheld its decision to prohibit the opposition Yabloko party from participating in September’s parliamentary elections, rejecting the party’s appeal on Monday. The ruling removes the only registered political party openly calling for an end to the war in Ukraine from the ballot. A pro-Kremlin nationalist party had filed the case against Yabloko, claiming the opposition group received Western backing and sought to undermine the electoral process.
On the same day the party lost its appeal, a separate court sentenced Yabloko’s deputy leader Lev Shlosberg to over 11 years in prison. Shlosberg was convicted under wartime legislation that penalizes individuals for allegedly damaging the military’s reputation or spreading false information about the conflict. He was convicted based on his public statements criticizing Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, which he characterized as catastrophic for the nation during his trial.
The parallel actions against the party and its leadership have drawn criticism from opposition figures who view them as evidence of democratic erosion. Police detained numerous Yabloko supporters and journalists attending the court proceedings, with party officials characterizing the detentions as intimidation. Party representatives argue the ban effectively silences millions of Russians opposed to the ongoing war who now lack representation through traditional electoral channels.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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