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Anti-war Candidate Polina Lermant Takes a Risk in Russia’s Parliamentary Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Campaign Amid Repression
On September 16, Polina Lermant, a 24-year-old Yabloko candidate in Moscow, handed out flyers beside a digital billboard urging Russians to “vote for peace.” Lermant’s concerns echo recent imprisonments of senior Yabloko members—Lev Shlosberg (11 years) and Maxim Kruglov (7 years)—and a Supreme Court ruling on August 10 that barred most Yabloko candidates for alleged electoral violations. The party’s participation gives it a limited platform to voice anti-war positions despite the risk of further repression.
Yabloko’s Position and Election Prospects
Yabloko is the only registered party inside Russia that openly opposes the war in Ukraine and calls for a ceasefire. The party holds a handful of regional seats but none in the 450-member State Duma. Most of its Moscow candidates were removed after the August 10 ruling, leaving Lermant among a shrinking pool of anti-war contenders. Polling cited by the Levada Center—designated a foreign agent by the authorities—shows public support for peace talks above 60 percent, and a government pollster indicated rising backing for Yabloko before the disqualifications, though recent official polls no longer list the party.
Official Stance and Political Landscape
The Kremlin frames wartime censorship and national unity as essential, describing the election as a means to project stability and gauge “war weariness.” State-run advertising urges voters to see their vote as “the strength of Russia.” Analysts expect United Russia, the pro-Putin party, to retain dominance, with the Communists, LDPR, Just Russia and New People likely to continue voting in line with Kremlin positions.
Data & Statistics
- State Duma: 450 seats.
- Yabloko candidates in Moscow initially: 16 (single-mandate constituencies).
- Lev Shlosberg: 11-year sentence; Maxim Kruglov: 7-year sentence.
- Levada Center poll: >60 % support for peace talks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm really afraid. My parents and my husband are really worried about me. I am afraid that the repression will start,” — Polina Lermant