The head of the sole anti-war party in Russia has affirmed his commitment to remain in the country and continue advocating for change, despite escalating pressure from the authorities resulting in the party’s exclusion from the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court’s decision to disallow Yabloko, a post-Soviet liberal party, from participating in the September elections was seen by leader Nikolai Rybakov as a response to the party’s resonating call to end the long-standing conflict in Ukraine.
Rybakov emphasized that the overwhelming support from the public outweighs the court’s ruling, noting the vocal protest of hundreds of supporters outside the court premises chanting “shame” following the verdict. Once a prominent voice in parliament and a government critic, Yabloko 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 pose a stronger challenge if permitted to run. Yabloko is currently challenging the Supreme Court’s decision, which stemmed from allegations of undisclosed campaign support from Western sources and other accusations that the party denies.
Rybakov, a 47-year-old opposition stalwart, affirmed his decision to remain in Russia despite stringent censorship laws and wartime legislation, which have prompted many dissidents and activists to flee or face prosecution for expressing anti-war sentiments. He stressed the importance of staying within the country to effect political change.
Public sentiment against the war is challenging to gauge due to strict government control over dissent, but according to the Levada Center, a non-governmental pollster, the percentage of Russians expressing support for their armed forces’ actions in Ukraine dropped to 66% in July, the lowest level since February 2022. Rybakov highlighted the growing support for Yabloko’s peace-focused manifesto, indicating a significant portion of Russian society’s desire for an end to the conflict.
Social media has been abuzz with videos backing Yabloko, featuring individuals showcasing apples as a symbol of support for the party without overtly political messages, along with young people dancing to Russian tunes referencing apples as a nod to the party’s name.