Calls from pro-government figures in Russia to bar the liberal opposition party Yabloko from the upcoming elections are intensifying, according to reports. Critics accuse Yabloko of undermining national unity with its anti-war stance, while the party denies wrongdoing and defends its legality. No official decision has been announced.
Calls to disqualify the liberal opposition party Yabloko from Russia's upcoming elections have intensified, according to a report. Pro-government politicians and activists argue that the party's anti-war stance undermines the national interest during the conflict with Ukraine, and some have called for a legal review of its eligibility.
Yabloko, founded in the early 1990s, has long been a critic of Kremlin policy but holds limited electoral influence. Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, it has escalated its calls for a ceasefire and political settlement, drawing sharp criticism from pro-government circles.
As The Zioneer reported on July 28, 2026, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed Yabloko as 'no more than a cell' and the party faced registration hurdles, including being barred from the St. Petersburg legislative assembly election. The party has also been barred from that election and over a dozen candidates banned.
No official decision has been made by Russia's Central Election Commission or authorities to disqualify Yabloko, but the public debate reflects deepening political polarization over the limits of opposition legitimacy during wartime.
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