Russia's Supreme Court bars liberal party Yabloko from September Duma election; appeal set for 17 August

Supreme Court ruling

On 10 August, Russia's Supreme Court excluded the liberal opposition party Yabloko from the parliamentary elections scheduled for 18 to 20 September. The ruling upheld a complaint filed three days earlier by Rodina, an ultranationalist, pro-Kremlin party led by deputy Alexeï Jouravliov, who denounced what he called foreign financing of Yabloko. Judge Wjatscheslaw Kirillow, described in reporting as a Kremlin instrument, followed the prosecution's request to uphold Rodina's complaint against the Central Election Commission. Two other pro-Kremlin formations, the populist-left Just Russia and the LDPR party founded by Vladimir Jirinovski, had also expressed support for Yabloko's exclusion.

CEC reversal

The Central Election Commission had unanimously approved Yabloko's nationwide list and participation in the Duma vote in July, an unexpected decision at the time. However, during the Supreme Court hearing, the CEC representative sided with Rosfinmonitoring, the financial intelligence service, and the Prosecutor General's office, both of which backed Rodina's complaint. The CEC's reversal effectively sealed Yabloko's removal from the ballot.

Yabloko's appeal

On 14 August, Yabloko filed an appeal against the ruling. Party chairman Nikolai Rybakov announced the move in a video published by the party, insisting the party would appear on the ballot.

“Jabloko will be on the ballot for the Duma election.”

Rybakov said the party's lawyers had precisely proven there was no basis to exclude Yabloko from the September vote.

“All of this was fabricated, and we will continue to prove it within the framework of Russian legal provisions.”

The appeal hearing is scheduled for Monday, 17 August. Experts cited in the articles expect the Kremlin-controlled court to confirm its original decision.

What is at stake

Yabloko is the liberal opposition party that has openly opposed Russia's war of aggression. The nationwide parliamentary and local elections are set for 18 to 20 September. The party's exclusion removes one of the few remaining liberal voices from the formal electoral process, while pro-Kremlin parties Rodina, Just Russia, and LDPR all supported the ban. Rybakov has vowed to continue fighting within the Russian legal framework, though the outcome of the appeal hearing on Monday will determine whether Yabloko appears on the Duma ballot.