Jabloko party faces candidate disqualifications in Russian elections

The Russian opposition party Jabloko is facing significant hurdles ahead of the State Duma elections, scheduled for September 18–20. While the party's official registration was canceled by the Supreme Court in August, it still intends to field over 100 candidates in single-mandate constituencies out of the 225 available.

Authorities have used various methods to disqualify Jabloko candidates at both national and regional levels. In regions such as Udmurtia, Moscow, and Chelyabinsk, candidates have been removed from the ballot following accusations of displaying “extremist symbols” or through legal challenges filed by rival political parties.

Observers suggest these actions aim to eliminate anti-war discourse and any political viewpoints that deviate from the Kremlin's official line. While major parties like United Russia, the Communist Party (KPRF), New People, and the LDPR are expected to surpass the five percent threshold, the crackdown on Jabloko represents a concerted effort to minimize political debate during the election cycle.