Despite facing increased pressure from the authorities, the leader of Russia’s sole anti-war party has affirmed his commitment to staying in the country and continuing the fight for change. The Supreme Court recently decided to exclude the post-Soviet liberal party Yabloko, meaning “apple” in Russian, from the upcoming parliamentary elections in September. Nikolai Rybakov, the party’s leader, expressed that the ruling was a response to the resonance their message of ending the ongoing war in Ukraine had with the public.

Yabloko, once a prominent voice in parliament and a government critic, now holds only a few regional seats and lacks representation in the State Duma, where the Putin-backed United Russia party dominates. The party is contesting the Supreme Court’s decision, which was based on allegations of undisclosed campaign support from Western sources, among other charges that Yabloko denies.

Rybakov remains resolute in his stance, refusing to leave Russia despite stringent censorship laws and wartime regulations that have compelled many opposition figures to flee or risk prosecution for expressing dissenting views. He emphasized the importance of staying within the country to effect political change and declared that public support for ending the war is evident, with a growing number of Russians advocating for peace and a democratic future for their nation.

The opposition leader highlighted the significance of the people’s support, stating that while authorities may attempt to suppress Yabloko, the shared beliefs of millions cannot be silenced. Social media has been abuzz with videos backing Yabloko, showcasing individuals holding apples as a symbol of support or dancing to songs referencing the party’s name in anticipation of the upcoming elections.