Sverdlovsk Region Court Bars Yabloko From Regional Assembly Race

Aug. 28, 2026 A Yabloko campaign sign that reads: “For peace and freedom, and for living without fear.” @yabloko_party / Telegram A judge in the Sverdlovsk region has disqualified the liberal Yabloko party’s list of candidates from the upcoming regional assembly elections, the court said Friday. The regional ban follows Russia’s Supreme Court ruling last week to reject Yabloko’s final appeal against a nationwide ban barring its candidate list from the State Duma elections next month. The Sverdlovsk Regional Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), which accused Yabloko of a range of violations that include those cited in the Supreme Court ruling. LDPR claimed Yabloko committed copyright infringement, overspent its funds and shared content on banned platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Konstantin Kiselyov, who leads Yabloko’s Sverdlovsk region list of candidates, argued that the same accusations can be leveled against the other parties running in the elections, including LDPR. “Each party and their leaders are on these banned social networks. I come across official state agencies there, and they can’t live without them,” Kommersant quoted Kiselyov as saying in court. Yaroslav Shcherbakov, another Yabloko member in the Sverdlovsk region, also accused LDPR of openly calling for the elimination of its political competitor. Yabloko’s Yekaterinburg branch said it would appeal the ruling. The Sverdlovsk region is the fifth in Russia where Yabloko has had its list of candidates barred from running in the regional assembly races in September, either through court rulings or rejections by local election commissions. Yabloko faces the risk of being stripped of its official registration due to legal requirements to field candidates in at least 20% of regional assembly elections or 10% of gubernatorial races every seven years, according to exiled journalist Farida Rustamova. Read more about: Elections , 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 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 Pro-Kremlin Incumbents Sweep to Victory in Russia’s Regional Elections More than 45,000 seats were contested nationwide, including 19 governorships, 11 regional legislatures and 25 city councils. 2 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’s ‘Systemic Opposition’ Eyes Small Triumphs in Regional Elections The ruling, pro-Kremlin United Russia party faces competition in a number of regions and municipalities as its popularity appears increasingly uncertain... 6 Min read