Russia Supreme Court Bars Yabloko Party From September Elections

The Supreme Court of Russia blocked the liberal Yabloko party from appearing on the ballot for the lower house parliamentary elections scheduled for September. The court upheld a lawsuit filed by the nationalist Rodina party, which accused Yabloko of violating election laws and receiving support from designated foreign agents.

Yabloko, which advocates for an end to the invasion of Ukraine, denied the allegations and intends to appeal the verdict. The ruling reverses a previous decision by the Central Election Commission of Russia, which had initially cleared the party to field candidates.

This judicial action follows a broader crackdown on anti-war dissent within the country. Recent developments include the conviction of politician Boris Nadezhdin for extremism, who has since fled to France.