Nikolai Rybakov, the leader of Russia’s Yabloko party, has stated that he will continue to push for change in his country, despite the party’s exclusion from upcoming parliamentary elections.
Background
The Supreme Court ruled to bar Yabloko from the September vote, citing allegations that the party received undeclared campaign support from Western sources. Rybakov denies these charges and says the decision reflects the authorities’ concern that Yabloko’s call to end the war in Ukraine is resonating with voters.
Rybakov, a 47-year-old opposition veteran, has no plans to leave Russia, despite tight censorship laws and wartime legislation that has driven many opposition figures to flee or risk prosecution for voicing anti-war views.
Public Opposition to the War
Public opposition to the war is difficult to assess due to strict state controls on dissent, but the share of Russians who support the actions of their armed forces in Ukraine fell to 66% in July, the lowest level since February 2022, according to the Levada Center.
Rybakov believes that Yabloko’s short manifesto calling for peace and a prosperous democratic Russia has attracted many new supporters, showing that a significant portion of Russian society wants the war to end.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
