Ahead of the September elections to the Russian State Duma, at least 23 politicians have been barred from standing as candidates due to posts featuring Alexei Navalny’s symbols, links to banned social media platforms and even a rainbow-coloured T-shirt, reports The Telegraph. Meanwhile, the Russian Supreme Court is due to consider a petition to exclude the Yabloko party from the elections; eight of its members are currently in prison.
Briefly about the main points
- Elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation will take place on 18–20 September.
- Online posts and symbols were cited as grounds for refusal of entry.
- An administrative penalty may result in a candidate being deprived of their electoral rights.
- «Yabluko» risks losing the chance to take part in the elections.
Administrative matters are becoming a barrier for candidates
The application of regulations on prohibited symbols has a direct impact on elections: an administrative penalty could bar a politician from appearing on the ballot paper. According to the AP, Boris Nadezhdin He was fined for a 2023 video in which Navalny appeared briefly; the sentence, combined with his designation as a «foreign agent», prevented him from standing for election.
The Telegraph attributes the increased pressure to the Kremlin’s fears of a protest vote against the backdrop of the war, economic problems and growing discontent.
The pressure on «Yabloko» extends beyond individual candidates
The party claims that the persecution of its representatives is linked to its anti-war stance and its call for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The court proceedings regarding the removal of «Apples»… from the race could have a direct impact on the composition of the ballot paper ahead of the vote.".
