Yabloko List Candidates Disqualified in Tomsk Regional Elections

Sep. 11, 2026 A chalk inscription reading: "For Yabloko, for freedom." @yabloko_press / Telegram A judge in western Siberia’s Tomsk region has disqualified the liberal Yabloko party’s list of candidates from the upcoming regional assembly elections, the party said Friday, though candidates running in single-member districts remain on the ballot. Authorities have now invalidated or denied registration for Yabloko candidate lists in seven regions across Russia. The northwestern Novgorod region is the only remaining region where list candidates can still run for office. A judge from the Tomsk Regional Court sided with the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), which accused Yabloko of copyright violations, exceeding campaign spending limits and using banned social media websites. Yabloko, which accused LDPR of filing a “copycat” lawsuit amid widespread pressure on the party ahead of next week’s elections, said it would appeal the decision. Seven Yabloko candidates running in single-member constituencies in Tomsk remain on the ballot. At the national level, Yabloko candidates 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 the party’s federal slate of candidates for the State Duma. But Yabloko candidates competing in single-member districts are also beginning to see their campaigns cut short due to disqualification. On Wednesday, the party said courts across several regions received last-minute lawsuits seeking to bar its members from running in the State Duma elections. Yabloko said 17 of its single-member district candidates could be stripped of their registration if the court rulings are upheld, leaving the party represented in 104 single-member races nationwide. The party also 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. Yabloko is Russia’s oldest liberal party and is the only registered party campaigning on a pro-peace platform. Read more about: Yabloko , Elections , Tomsk , 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 News Analysis Regions Calling: Russia’s Tourism Reshuffle, Nationwide Elections and More We look at where and how Russians chose to spend their summer holidays — decisions that offer important clues for the public mood and the economy. 7 Min read Feature ‘Indifference’ and ‘Anger’ Guide Voter Choice in Russia’s Ethnic Republics Outsize war casualties, worsening economic conditions and even sweeping repressions are unlikely to catalyze voters in a major way, experts and activists... 5 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