Leader of Yabloko’s Sverdlovsk Region Branch Left Russia, Reports Say

Sep. 9, 2026 Maxim Petlin. @yabloko_press / Telegram The head of the Sverdlovsk regional chapter of the liberal Yabloko party has left Russia amid a growing number of arrests of other party members, local media reported Wednesday, just weeks before parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held. Regional party chairman Maxim Petlin has not been seen in the capital city Yekaterinburg for “several months,” anonymous sources told the news outlet 66.ru. It was not immediately clear when he left Russia or where he is currently located. Petlin later told the newspaper Kommersant that his lawyer advised him not to comment on reports of his departure “for the safety of my family and myself.” In June, the politician withdrew his candidacy in this month’s State Duma elections due to reported pressure from law enforcement authorities, including short-term detentions and police searches at his home. Yabloko is Russia’s oldest liberal party and is the only registered party campaigning on a pro-peace platform. Several of its candidates have been disqualified from running in next week’s elections over various violations. On Monday, Sverdlovsk region police arrested at least six Yabloko members running for federal or regional office in connection with public displays of “extremist” symbols. The charges disqualify them from the upcoming elections. Yabloko’s Sverdlovsk regional chapter said Wednesday that Petlin was in communication with one of its arrested members. Candidates of the party campaigning in single-member districts are still allowed to run for office after Russia’s Supreme Court last month ruled to cancel the registration of Yabloko’s federal slate of candidates for the State Duma. Read more about: Yabloko , Sverdlovsk , Regions 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 Sverdlovsk Region Court Bars Yabloko From Regional Assembly Race Sverdlovsk is the fifth region where Yabloko has had its list of candidates barred from running in the regional assembly races in September. 2 Min read Putin Appoints New Governors for Sverdlovsk, Orenburg Regions Both regions are among 20 Russian regions and the annexed Crimean city of Sevastopol that will hold gubernatorial elections in September. 1 Min read At Least 6 Yekaterinburg Law Enforcement Officials Arrested on Various Charges – Reports It was not immediately clear if the cases were connected, or if they represented a wider crackdown in the region’s security services. 2 Min read Feature Russia Unprepared for 'Alarming' 2024 Wildfire Season, Experts Warn Unsettling climate forecasts, human neglect, lack of resources and “zombie” fires risk turning Russia’s annual wildfire season into a crisis. 5 Min read