Russia's oldest liberal party, Yabloko, has been granted the right to contest September's State Duma elections on a peace platform. The Central Election Commission approved the candidacy of over 400 party nominees on the federal list and in single-mandate constituencies.
Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov stressed the significance of the decision, saying it offers Russian voters "a legal and safe way to vote for peace and freedom and to advocate for a ceasefire agreement" for the first time in five years. The party will field 269 candidates on its federal list and 135 in single-mandate districts.
In early July, the election commission found inconsistencies in the application files of 25 Yabloko candidates. After corrected documents were submitted, only one candidate was disqualified. The party announced it expected a "tough campaign" ahead of the 20 September elections.
This federal approval contrasts with the obstacles Yabloko candidates have faced in local and regional elections. Dozens of party members' local-level applications were rejected, barring them from the ballot.
The election commission has also allowed the ruling United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, New People and A Just Russia to compete in September's race, alongside Yabloko. Two other parties currently not represented in the Duma have also been cleared to field candidates.
Russian authorities have jailed many prominent Yabloko members in recent years for criticizing the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.