EU Sanctions Russian Officials Involved in Crackdown Against Yabloko

Sep. 28, 2026 Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov attends a Russian Supreme Court hearing in Moscow on Aug. 17, 2026. Tatyaba Makeyeva / AFP The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions against 10 Russian officials over the exclusion of the liberal Yabloko party from this month’s parliamentary elections and the recent criminal prosecution of its senior members. The officials were accused of “supporting the repression of democratic opposition and seriously undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.” The sanctions against them include EU asset freezes and travel bans. One Russian Supreme Court judge was sanctioned for ruling last month to bar Yabloko’s federal party list from the ballot for alleged violations involving foreign funding, campaign materials distributed through restricted foreign platforms and copyright rules. Two more judges were sanctioned for upholding that ruling. A Central Election Commission official and a prosecutor were also sanctioned for taking part in the court proceedings against Yabloko. In addition, two judges and two state prosecutors were sanctioned for the jailing of senior Yabloko members, including the former head of the party’s Pskov regional branch, Lev Shlosberg. Another judge was sanctioned for fining Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov after he shared a photo of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Yabloko, Russia’s oldest liberal party, was the only registered political party campaigning for peace in the 2026 State Duma elections. Besides being struck from the party-list ballot, Yabloko’s candidates running for seats in the lower house faced interference from the authorities, police detentions and disqualification in single-member constituencies where they could still run. Yabloko was also barred from almost all regional assembly races. The northwestern Novgorod was the only place in Russia where the party managed to pass the 5% electoral threshold to gain seats in the regional legislature. In a separate action on Monday, the EU sanctioned 27 additional individuals and organizations accused of being involved in the forced deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. Read more about: Sanctions , Yabloko , European Union 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 EU Moves to Restrict Travel of Russian Diplomats Amid Espionage Fears – FT Under the new restrictions, which are part of a broader sanctions package over the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian diplomats based in EU capitals would... 2 Min read EU Weighs Handing Raiffeisen $2Bln in Deripaska-Linked Strabag Shares – FT EU ambassadors were expected to discuss the plan in Brussels on Friday, with “several” member states likely to object, the FT reported. 2 Min read Russia Threatens to Ban Norwegian Ships Over EU Fishing Sanctions Norway joined EU sanctions against two Russian fishing companies early last month, sparking condemnation from Moscow. 1 Min read Hungary Demands Sanctions Relief for Russian Billionaire Fridman Ahead of EU Sanctions Vote – FT The EU must renew two sets of sanctions on Russia every six months through a unanimous vote. 2 Min read