The head of the sole registered anti-war party in Russia has affirmed his commitment to remain in the country and continue advocating for change, despite escalating pressure from authorities resulting in the exclusion of the party from the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify the post-Soviet liberal party Yabloko from the September elections was met with defiance by leader Nikolai Rybakov, who emphasized the strong public support for their cause, particularly in ending the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
Yabloko, once a prominent voice for liberalism and government critique in parliament, now holds only a few regional seats and lacks representation in the State Duma, which is predominantly controlled by the Putin-backed United Russia party. While United Russia is expected to maintain its dominance in the upcoming elections, Rybakov expressed confidence that Yabloko would present a formidable challenge if allowed to participate.
Yabloko is currently appealing the Supreme Court’s ruling, which alleged undisclosed campaign backing from Western entities among other accusations, all of which the party denies. Despite facing stringent censorship laws and restrictive wartime regulations that have prompted many dissenters to flee or risk prosecution, Rybakov reiterated his resolve to remain in Russia, citing the necessity of effecting change from within the country.
Public sentiment regarding the war remains challenging to gauge due to stringent governmental controls on dissent. However, a decline in support for the armed forces’ actions in Ukraine was reported, with only 66% of Russians backing the military in July, marking the lowest level since February 2022 according to the Levada Center, a non-governmental pollster listed as a foreign agent by the Russian government.
Rybakov highlighted the growing support for Yabloko’s peace-focused platform, underscoring the widespread desire within Russian society for an end to the conflict. Despite attempts to hinder the party’s activities, Rybakov emphasized the unity of millions who share Yabloko’s vision, as evidenced by the surge of social media content backing the party, including videos featuring individuals holding apples or dancing to songs referencing the fruit as a symbol of support for the upcoming elections.