Russia - August 2026

Russia's Supreme Court barred the liberal Yabloko party from participating in the September 2026 State Duma elections, overturning the party's registration days after it had been approved by the Central Election Commission. The court accepted a lawsuit filed by the pro-government Rodina party alleging campaign-related legal violations, including foreign funding and copyright infringements. Yabloko was the only officially registered party campaigning against Russia's war in Ukraine and advocating for a ceasefire. The decision thus removed the sole anti-war option from the national ballot and further narrowed political competition ahead of parliamentary elections. Human Rights Watch and opposition groups criticized the ruling as a violation of political participation and freedom of expression