Russia's Supreme Court has barred Yabloko, the country's only openly anti-war political party, from contesting the September parliamentary elections, removing one of the last electoral options for voters opposed to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The court on Monday upheld a legal challenge brought by a pro-Kremlin nationalist party and cancelled the registration of Yabloko's federal candidate list for the elections to the ninth State Duma.

Judge Vyacheslav Kirillov announced the ruling during the hearing, saying the claims seeking to annul the registration of Yabloko's candidate list had been granted.

Yabloko leader Nikolay Rybakov said the party would appeal the decision.

Yabloko Plans Legal Appeal

Speaking to supporters outside the court, Rybakov said the party still had work ahead and reiterated its opposition to the war.

He said Yabloko's efforts would remain focused on reducing deaths and restoring peace.

Around 100 supporters, many of them young people, gathered outside the courthouse after the ruling. Demonstrators reportedly chanted slogans condemning the decision.

The ruling means Yabloko will not be able to campaign as a federal party in September's parliamentary vote unless its appeal succeeds.

Russia's Only Liberal Opposition Party

Yabloko is widely regarded as Russia's remaining liberal political party operating inside the country.

The party was founded in 1993 by pro-Western public officials and initially achieved electoral success following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Its political influence has declined considerably over the past two decades. Since 2003, Yabloko has failed to win seats in the State Duma, while President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has dominated parliamentary elections.

Several prominent opposition figures living outside Russia have supported Yabloko, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Russian authorities have designated both Navalnaya and Navalny as extremists.

Party Members Face Prosecution

Yabloko has faced increasing pressure over its opposition to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

Rybakov told AFP that around 40 party activists were facing prosecution.

The party's deputy leader Maxim Kruglov was sentenced to seven years in prison in June over social media posts critical of the conflict. The head of Yabloko's Pskov branch, Lev Shlosberg, was also arrested last year.

Rybakov himself was fined in December over the publication of a photograph of Navalny on social media. The penalty has prevented him from standing in the September election.

Support Among Young Voters

Despite its limited electoral support, Yabloko has attempted to build its campaign around opposition to the Ukraine war and calls for a negotiated settlement.

A Yabloko supporter, 22-year-old Yevgenia, told AFP that she planned to vote for the party to express dissatisfaction with the country's current direction.

She also said she wanted a peaceful agreement that could bring the military operation to an end.

The party has sought to appeal particularly to younger voters, amid concerns over the effects of the conflict on everyday life, including disruptions caused by internet shutdowns introduced by authorities during Ukrainian drone attacks.

Party Below Election Threshold

Yabloko's electoral prospects were already limited before the Supreme Court ruling.

A poll conducted earlier this year put the party's support at around 3 per cent, below the 5 per cent threshold required to enter Russia's lower house through the federal party-list system.

The party's exclusion therefore removes a political organisation that was already unlikely to cross the parliamentary threshold but remained an important platform for openly expressing opposition to the war.

Wider Political Context

The ruling comes as Russia's political environment remains tightly controlled, with many prominent critics of the Kremlin imprisoned, living abroad or otherwise barred from political activity.

Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine have continued without a lasting settlement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained territorial demands, while negotiations involving Kyiv have repeatedly faced obstacles.

Independent polling cited by AFP has indicated that many Russians favour negotiations with Ukraine, although the political space for openly advocating such positions remains restricted.

For Yabloko, the Supreme Court decision represents another setback after years of declining electoral influence and increasing pressure on its members.

The party's planned appeal will now determine whether it can regain access to the September ballot.