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The United Nations (UN) has called on Russia to overturn its decision to bar the anti-war Yabloko party from contesting September’s parliamentary elections.
The UN Human Rights Office said on Wednesday that it was deeply concerned by the exclusion of Yabloko, one of Russia’s oldest political parties, from the elections and urged Russian authorities to reverse the decision.
“We are deeply concerned about the barring of Yabloko, one of Russia’s oldest political parties, from the September parliamentary elections.
“We call on the authorities to overturn the ban,” it said.
Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld a legal challenge brought by a pro-Kremlin nationalist party, preventing Yabloko from participating in the poll.
Yabloko, which opposes Russia’s war in Ukraine, had hoped to use its peace platform to attract support, particularly among younger voters, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and e-commerce warehouses increasingly disrupt daily life.
The party also sought to capitalise on public frustration with internet shutdowns imposed by Russian authorities in response to Ukrainian drone attacks.
Yabloko members have faced increasing scrutiny over their opposition to the war in recent years.
Party leader Nikolay Rybakov said about 40 activists were currently facing prosecution.
