RUSSIA: WHY IS THE YABLOKO PARTY BARRED FROM THE ELECTIONS?

According to Deutsche Welle, Russia’s Supreme Court has barred the anti‑war opposition party Yabloko from the upcoming September parliamentary elections. The decision was announced a few weeks before the election deadline, effectively removing the party from the ballot. The ruling is likely to affect the political landscape and the campaign options for opposition voices.

Yabloko has long been one of the main opposition parties in Russia, known for its critical stance toward the Kremlin’s policies, including its war in Ukraine. The Supreme Court cited alleged violations of election law in issuing the ban, although the specific legal grounds were not elaborated in the report. The party’s exclusion means that voters who previously supported Yabloko will have fewer alternatives on the ballot, and it raises questions about the openness of the electoral process.

The ban is part of a broader trend of tightening control over political opposition ahead of national elections, underscoring the Kremlin’s efforts to limit dissenting voices in the public sphere.

• Supreme Court barred Yabloko from September parliamentary elections.
• Yabloko is an anti‑war opposition party with a history of criticism toward the Kremlin.
• The decision may reduce opposition options and reflects broader government control over elections.

Read the original source for full detail available at Deutsche Welle src