Russia's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the only party opposing the Kremlin's military action in Ukraine to be removed from the ballot in next month's parliamentary election. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The court annulled the registration of Yabloko — which is Russian for "apple" — after an appeal from a pro-Kremlin party. Last month, the Central Election Commission had initially allowed Yabloko on the ballot.
Party leader Nikolai Rybakov attended the hearing. Judge Vyacheslav Kirillov paused while reading the court decision. Police blocked the area at the Supreme Court.
This decision is another sign of the political situation in Russia. Yabloko was known as the only party expressing an anti-war voice in the country. Now its ability to participate in the election is excluded.