Nationalist Rodina Party Sues to Disqualify Yabloko From State Duma Elections

Aug. 7, 2026 Yabloko candidates running in the State Duma elections. yabloko.ru The nationalist Rodina party has filed a lawsuit with Russia’s Supreme Court seeking to disqualify the liberal Yabloko party from upcoming State Duma elections, Rodina leader Alexei Zhuravlyov announced Friday. “The Yabloko party are national traitors. These are people who work for the West and hold Western values,” Zhuravlyov told reporters outside the Supreme Court building. Without providing evidence, Zhuravlyov claimed his party had uncovered financial violations by Yabloko. In response, Yabloko threatened to sue Zhuravlyov, who serves in the State Duma as a member of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, for defamation over his remarks. Russia’s Supreme Court confirmed receiving Rodina’s disqualification filing earlier on Friday. The legal action follows a public clash between Zhuravlyov and Yabloko chairman Nikolay Rybakov during a Central Election Commission meeting last week. Election authorities have approved more than 400 candidates from Yabloko, Russia’s oldest liberal political party, to run in September’s parliamentary elections on a pro-peace platform. Rodina is also among 11 other parties cleared to contest seats in the lower house. Yabloko remains the only officially registered political 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. Several exiled opposition figures — including Yulia Navalnaya and Vladimir Kara-Murza — have publicly endorsed Yabloko. However, Rybakov has sought to distance himself and the party from the exiled dissidents. “Their support could get our party kicked off the ballot under the current rules,” Rybakov wrote Thursday on Telegram, referencing Kremlin restrictions targeting anti-war figures. Read more about: Yabloko , Politics , Elections , Supreme Court 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 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 Regions Calling: Kremlin Clamps Down on Communists Ahead of State Duma Elections Communist Party members in the Altai region are under increasing pressure ahead of the State Duma elections. Experts say that's by design. 6 Min read Justice Ministry Asks Russian Supreme Court to Disband Civic Initiative Party Russia’s Justice Ministry is petitioning the Supreme Court to disband Civic Initiative due to its lack of participation in elections over the past seven... 1 Min read