Story perspectives

Yabloko Barred, Russia Limits Opposition in Duma Election

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 2:17 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

Russia conducted a three-day parliamentary election for all 450 State Duma seats from 17–19 September 2026.
The Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from the party-list ballot, limiting it to a few single-seat contests.
United Russia, holding 310 seats, must retain at least 300 seats to preserve its supermajority for constitutional changes.
Levada Center reported Putin’s approval fell to 76 % in August, a 13-point drop from the previous year.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Russian constitutional crisis culminated on 12 December 1993 with a nationwide referendum adopting the current Constitution, centralizing presidential authority. The new charter created a 450-seat State Duma and required a two-thirds (300-seat) supermajority for constitutional amendments, a threshold United Russia later pursued. Today, the 2026 parliamentary vote mirrors that framework as United Russia seeks 300 seats, while the Supreme Court excludes Yabloko, echoing past legal constraints on opposition. The precedent shows that controlling a supermajority enables rapid legal reforms, suggesting future constitutional changes could further entrench executive power under Putin’s 76 % approval.

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Story summary

Russia conducted a three-day parliamentary election for all 450 State Duma seats from 17–19 September 2026.
The Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from the party-list ballot, limiting it to a few single-seat contests.
United Russia, holding 310 seats, must retain at least 300 seats to preserve its supermajority for constitutional changes.
Levada Center reported Putin’s approval fell to 76 % in August, a 13-point drop from the previous year.

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