Election Officials Accuse Yabloko Candidates of Foreign Funding at Russian Supreme Court Hearing

Aug. 10, 2026 Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov attends a Russian Supreme Court hearing on Aug. 10, 2026. REUTERS / Yulia Morozova Russia’s Central Election Commission said Monday that it uncovered evidence indicating that candidates from the liberal Yabloko party received funding from abroad. The allegations surfaced during a high-stakes Supreme Court hearing on a lawsuit filed by the small nationalist Rodina party, which is seeking to disqualify Yabloko from next month’s State Duma elections. Election officials told the court that data provided by Russia’s financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, revealed foreign financial transfers to several Yabloko candidates during 2025, the newspaper Kommersant reported. Because the Rosfinmonitoring document was classified “for official use only,” judges briefly adjourned the hearing to require non-disclosure agreements from Yabloko’s legal defense team before permitting them to review the evidence. Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov rejected the allegations that his party received funding from abroad. “We’re being funded by Russian citizens, and we answer to Russian citizens, as well as the Central Election Commission,” Rybakov told the Supreme Court. Rodina has also accused Yabloko of copyright infringement and “extremism.” State prosecutors said Monday that they support the lawsuit against the party. The legal push to remove Yabloko from the ballot comes after the Central Election Commission last month unexpectedly approved more than 400 candidates from the party to run in September’s parliamentary elections. Yabloko, Russia’s oldest liberal political party, remains the only officially registered party running on a pro-peace platform amid a broader crackdown on dissent. Russian authorities have jailed several prominent Yabloko members in recent years over their opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Yabloko , Elections Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Nationalist Rodina Party Sues to Disqualify Yabloko From State Duma Elections Rodina leader Alexei Zhuravlyov accused Yabloko members of being traitors “who work for the West” and claimed his party had uncovered financial violations... 2 Min read Central Election Commission Bars Yabloko Candidates From St. Petersburg Ballot Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov accused election officials of systematically targeting the party because it “opposes the authorities and defends residents... 1 Min read Election Commission Clears Yabloko to Run Pro-Peace Candidates in State Duma Races Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Ryabkov said the decision gives Russians their first opportunity in five years “to vote for peace and freedom, offering a legal... 2 Min read Yabloko Candidates Disqualified in St. Petersburg Elections Over Missing Paperwork Members of Yabloko told local media that 11 of their 25 nominees received formal notices claiming their submissions were incomplete. 2 Min read