Russia’s Supreme Court has canceled the registration of the federal list of candidates from the Yabloko party in elections to the State Duma. The court hearing took place on August 10.
Yabloko is the only Russian party that has openly opposed Russia’s war against Ukraine. The party had been preparing to participate in the September Duma elections under the slogans “For Peace and Freedom” and “For a Ceasefire Agreement, Diplomacy and the Achievement of Peace.”
The Rodina party filed a lawsuit against Yabloko.
Rodina accused Yabloko of extremism, violating campaign financing rules and rules governing the use of copyrighted materials.
According to Rodina, alleged copyright violations included a phrase by party member Grigory Yavlinsky in an interview, “Let There Always Be Sunshine,” images created by ChatGPT, and a photograph of Hiroshima after the 1945 U.S. bombing that was posted on the party’s website.
Yabloko said it would appeal the court’s decision.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Supreme Court building. Police vans were spotted nearby.
