Story perspectives

Yabloko barred as Russia holds 3-day Duma election

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 2:13 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Opposition Ballot Suppression

Russia held a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 State Duma seats, beginning on Friday 18 September 2026.
The Kremlin presented the vote as a public endorsement of the war, and President Vladimir Putin urged voters to support Russian soldiers.
The Supreme Court removed the liberal Yabloko party from the party-list ballot.
Several anti-war politicians have been imprisoned or forced to leave Russia ahead of the campaign.

Right

Military Guarded Ballots

Russia held a three-day State Duma election beginning on Friday 18 September 2026.
Election officials were escorted by Russian soldiers carrying ballot boxes, a measure presented as security but described as intimidation.
The Election Commission said early and at-home voting would limit gatherings vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks.
Russian court sentenced Lev Shlosberg to over 11 years and barred his Yabloko party officially.

History

Historical Context

In the 7 December 2003 State Duma election United Russia won about 38 % of the vote and 223 seats, pushing Yabloko below the 5 % threshold and cementing Vladimir Putin’s parliamentary dominance. Since then the Duma has functioned as a rubber-stamp, and the September 2026 three-day vote repeats the same party bans and military-guarded ballot boxes, underscoring entrenched electoral manipulation.

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Opposition Ballot Suppression

Russia held a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 State Duma seats, beginning on Friday 18 September 2026.
The Kremlin presented the vote as a public endorsement of the war, and President Vladimir Putin urged voters to support Russian soldiers.
The Supreme Court removed the liberal Yabloko party from the party-list ballot.
Several anti-war politicians have been imprisoned or forced to leave Russia ahead of the campaign.

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