Russian court upholds ban on anti-war party Yabloko ahead of elections

Russia's Supreme Court has confirmed the exclusion of the liberal opposition party Yabloko from the upcoming September parliamentary elections. The ruling leaves Russian voters without any legally registered party openly opposed to the ongoing war in Ukraine on the ballot for the State Duma.

The high court upheld a petition filed by the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina. The lawsuit alleged that Yabloko committed copyright infringement, statutory campaign violations, and extremism, while asserting the organisation receives Western backing. Demonstrators gathered outside the Moscow courthouse to protest following the announcement. Yabloko, which campaigned on calls for peace negotiations and a ceasefire, stated it will appeal the decision, though analysts consider a reversal before the vote unlikely.

Sources: Canarias7, France24, La Vanguardia, NEXTA, Tagesschau.