Russia’s Supreme Court upholds a decision banning the liberal party Yabloko from contesting the September parliamentary elections, according to multiple outlets. The ruling follows an Aug. 10 court case that accuses the party of receiving foreign funding and promoting “extremism.” Hours after the Supreme Court decision, the party’s removal from the ballot is carried out.
In a separate but related case, prosecutors seek and courts order a prison sentence for Yabloko deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg. Euronews and Kyiv Post report that Shlosberg is sentenced to more than 11 years in a penal colony, while Kyiv Post adds that prosecutors requested a 12-year term. Euronews links the conviction to his calls for a ceasefire during Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the broader reporting frames the actions as part of the Kremlin’s political pressure ahead of the vote. Other coverage characterizes the developments as further restrictions on opposition parties.
