Sourced fact
The News
According to Deutsche Welle, the Yabloko party, Russia’s only anti-war party, has been banned from participating in the upcoming September parliamentary elections. The Rodina movement, loyal to Putin, filed for the ban.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Politically, this decision represents a significant development within the context of tightening the squeeze on Russian opposition since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The “Yabloko” party had enjoyed relatively moderate popularity before the war and represented a dissenting voice against the Karimov regime; therefore, its ban from the elections aims to eliminate any real threat to the ruling establishment.
In a broader context, this step demonstrates the limited space for opposition currently available in Russia, as parties that do not explicitly support Putin’s policies are facing increasing pressure, either through laws or through impunity. The banning of Yabloko comes within a series of actions taken by the Russian government to ensure the dominance of the “Russkiy Soyuz” (United Russia) party in general elections.
