{
  "id": 491789,
  "title": "Court proceedings: Russia: Court excludes opposition party from election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/gerichtsprozess-russland-gericht-schlie-t-oppositionspartei-von-wahl",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T16:56:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/gerichtsprozess-russland-gericht-schliesst-oppositionspartei-von-wahl-aus/100246320.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Russia's Supreme Court has barred the liberal opposition party Jabloko from participating in September's parliamentary elections, ruling on a Kremlin-friendly party's complaint alleging numerous violations of Russian law during Jabloko's registration. Kremlin critic Judge Vyacheslav Kirillov followed the State Attorney's recommendation, finding Rodina's complaint justified. Supporters of Jabloko, known as \"Jabloko,\" gathered outside the court, with the party seeking to overturn the decision. The court has explicitly allowed an appeal. Jabloko demands an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. The nationwide parliamentary and local elections are scheduled from September 18 to 20. Jabloko contested the exclusion in a lengthy court hearing, stating they committed no legal violations. Party leader Nikolai Rybakow claimed no legal violations occurred and called for peace and freedom. He emphasized the importance of political competition in elections. Rodina accused Jabloko of violating copyright in campaign materials, spending excessive funds on internet advertising, and receiving $178 in campaign funding from the U.S. and Germany. Jabloko's lawyers disputed these claims in their 40-page complaint. Rybakow referred to the case as a \"historical process,\" as it has never happened before for a permitted party to be excluded post-registration. An election commission representative emphasized the issue of foreign campaign funding, noting its unsettling nature. They had previously defended their July decision to allow Jabloko and other parties to run. Rodina supporters were confident from the start, dismissing accusations as noise and absurd thoughts. Jabloko considers itself an exclusively peaceful, civilized, and lawful political organization. Rybakow criticized Rodina for not presenting evidence and framing thoughts as lawlessness. He condemned Rodina's attempt to undermine the authority of Central Election Commission head Ella Pamfilova, who urged voters to decide between political options - for or against the war. Rodina representative accused Jabloko's 43-word platform of excluding a peace resolution, citing the annexation of Ukrainian regions Donbas, Luhansk, Saporischschja, and Cherson as contradictory to Russian aggression. Other Kremlin-friendly parties also sought exclusion. Several Duma deputies, supporting Putin's war, called Jabloko members traitors and Western agents, especially criticizing the lack of war veterans on their list. Critics noted Jabloko's recent surge in support, questioning why the Kremlin allowed them to gain significant traction before barring them. Experts believe the party would have met the 5% threshold and returned to the Duma for the first time in over 20 years. While prominent Jabloko members are barred as \"foreign agents\" in court, the party's lesser-known members could still secure seats. Despite this, the Kremlin has targeted them due to the party's recent popularity.",
  "summary": "Russia's election commission initially allowed the liberal opposition party Yabloko - declared opponents of the war - to take part in the parliamentary elections. Following criticism from Kremlin-loyal forces, the party is now out.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Election in Saxony-Anhalt: Left Party leader does not rule out support for CDU",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/wahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-linken-chef-schlie-t-unterstutzung-fur-cdu",
        "published": "2026-08-09T15:14:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}