Yabloko Leader Vows to Stay in Russia Despite Election Ban
On Monday, Aug. 10, Russia barred the only openly anti-war party from September’s parliamentary elections. Regardless of the court’s ruling, public support for ending the war is growing, Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov said, adding that he will remain in Russia and keep pushing for peace.
Nikolai Rybakov, the leader of Russia's sole registered anti-war party Yabloko, has stated his intention to stay in Russia and fight for change despite his party being barred from upcoming parliamentary elections. On Aug. 10, Russia's Supreme Court ruled that Yabloko is ineligible to participate in the Sept. 18-19 elections. Rybakov explained that the decision highlights the authorities' concern over the party's appeal to voters for an end to the war.
He emphasized that the support of the people is more important than the court's ruling. Despite Russia's tight censorship laws and wartime legislation, Rybakov has no plans to leave the country, stating that only by being inside Russia can change occur. Yabloko, currently holding few regional seats, could potentially become a stronger contender in the lower house vote if allowed to run.
The party is appealing the Supreme Court's decision. While Yabloko promotes peace, it is not pro-Ukrainian and calls for a ceasefire that maintains the current front line. Public support for the war has fallen to 66% in July, according to the Levada Center, marking its lowest level since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The court's ruling to exclude Yabloko from the elections was based on a lawsuit filed by the nationalist Rodina party, which accused Yabloko of promoting "extremism" and receiving foreign funding.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
