Pskov Regional Court Reduces Yabloko’s Compensation for Unlawful Removal from 2023 Elections by Twenty Times: Decision to Be Appealed
Press Release, 2.02.2026
Photo: The Pskov Regional Court / Photo from the Pskov City Duma website
The Pskov Regional Court has reduced on appeal the amount to be paid to Yabloko by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation from 196,452 roubles (approximately USD 1,964.52) to 10,000 roubles (approximately USD 100). The compensation of more than 196,000 roubles had been awarded to the party by the court of first instance for the unlawful removal of Yabloko’s lists from the 2023 elections in the Bezhanitsky District of the Pskov Region. The Ministry of Finance appealed against this decision and succeeded on appeal in reducing the payment almost twenty-fold. Pskov Yabloko regards this outcome as disrespectful to the Constitutional Court’s ruling and will appeal against it at the cassation level.
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Posted: February 2nd, 2026 under Elections, Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2023, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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On the Inadmissibility of Arbitrary Disconnection of Communications
Decision by the Federal Bureau of Yabloko, adopted on 29.01.2026, published on 30.01.2026
Photo: the State Duma of the Russian Federation / Photo by Eduard Kornienko, Izvestia
The State Duma has passed in the first reading amendments to the Law “On Communications” that provide for the possibility of suspending the provision of communication services at the initiative of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.
The amendments introduce two provisions. Firstly, telecommunications operators are obligated to suspend the provision of services upon receiving a corresponding demand from the FSB “for the purpose of protecting citizens and the state from emerging security threats”. Secondly, telecommunications operators are exempted from civil liability for non-performance or improper performance of their contractual obligations if this is due to compliance with FSB demands.
Both provisions appear to us unacceptable.
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Posted: January 30th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Без рубрики.
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Action of Writing Letters to Political Prisoners, Dedicated to Arrested and Convicted Russian Scientists, Held in Moscow
Press Release, 30.01.2026
Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 29 January, an action of writing letters to political prisoners was held at Yabloko’s Moscow office – it was timed to coincide with Russian Science Day and was dedicated to scientists deprived of their freedom for political reasons. As a rule, Russian Science Day is a celebration for academicians, scientists, professors and students who have devoted themselves to research activities. At the same time, in Russia, around 10% of all political prisoners are now scientists and teachers, the organisers of the action emphasised on 29 January.
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Posted: January 30th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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Maritime Territory Yabloko Has a New Chair: Marina Zheleznyakova Elected Unanimously
Press Release, 30.01.2026
Photo: Marina Zheleznyakova / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
The regional branch of Yabloko in the Maritime Territory held a general meeting at which participants elected Marina Zheleznyakova as the new Chair of the branch. Marina Zheleznyakova has been a party member since 2018 and since 2019 had held the post of Deputy Chair of the branch. Zheleznyakova is well known in the region as one of the most prominent activists defending citizens’ rights. In the past two years she was subjected to criminal prosecution in a political case and was fined a record high amount by Russian judicial standards of 2 million roubles. This, however, did not prevent her colleagues from unanimously electing Zheleznyakova as the new Chair of the regional branch, thus, expressing their absolute support for her.
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Posted: January 30th, 2026 under Human Rights, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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St.Petersburg City Court upholds the fine and, as a consequence, electoral ban for Nikolai Rybakov over his post with condolences
Press Release, 28.01.2026
Photo: St. Petersburg City Court / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Considering the appeal against the first-instance ruling, the St.Petersburg City Court found no grounds to overturn it. Thus, the decision of the Vyborgsky District Court of St.Petersburg imposing a fine of 1,500 roubles on Nikolai Rybakov and finding him guilty under the article on “demonstration of extremist symbols and attributes” remained unchanged. Punishment under this article also entails a ban on participation in elections for one year.
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Posted: January 28th, 2026 under Elections, Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, State Duma Elections, State Duma Elections 2026, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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82 years since the complete liberation of Leningrad from the blockade: Yabloko members held commemorative events in St Petersburg and Moscow
Press Release, 27.01.2026
Photo: Delegation from St.Petersburg Yabloko during the flower-laying ceremony on 27 January 2026 / Photo by St.Petersburg Yabloko
Leaders and activists from Yabloko laid flowers at the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in St.Petersburg and in the Alexander Garden in Moscow in memory of those who perished during the Siege of Leningrad. Today, 27 January 2026, marks 82 years since the complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade.
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Posted: January 28th, 2026 under History, Human Rights, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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Yabloko has installed a memorial plaque to journalist Anna Politkovskaya at her house
Press Release, 27.01.2026
Photo: Nikolai Rybakov and Ivan Dorofeyev / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Yabloko party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov, together with Ivan Dorofeyev, a member of the Regional Council of Moscow Yabloko, installed a memorial plaque today, 27 January, in memory of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered 20 years ago. The wooden plaque has been attached not to the building’s façade, but to the railings at the entrance to the stairwell. Previously, a stone memorial plaque installed on the façade in 2013 was smashed by vandals.
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Posted: January 27th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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Yevgeny Bunimovich awarded the order of the Znamya literary journal for continuous and fruitful collaboration
Press Release, 26.01.2026
Photo: Yevgeny Bunimovich at the launch of the book “Time of Others” / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Yevgeny Bunimovich, member of Yabloko’s Political Committee, Honoured Teacher of Russia, author of school textbooks, writer and poet, has been awarded the Order of the Znamya literary journal for continuous and fruitful collaboration. Znamya has been publishing Bunimovich’s poetry, prose, essays and memoirs since the 1990s, yet the award still came as a surprise to the writer.
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Posted: January 27th, 2026 under Greetings, Без рубрики.
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A series of domestic dogs poisonings in Moscow: Kirill Goncharov, leader of the Moscow branch of Yabloko demands immediate investigation
Press Release, 26.01.2026
Photo by Nikita Yudin, Kommersant
At least seven domestic dogs have died in the western district of Moscow since mid-January – local residents blame dog hunters and are posting photographs of “pink” snow (this is how animal abusers distribute poison). Moscow Yabloko is calling the incidents systematic crimes and demanding an immediate investigation.
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Posted: January 26th, 2026 under Environmental Policies, Governance, Protection of Environment, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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Freedom for Political Prisoners!
Decision by the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko adopted on 6 December 2025, published on 21 January 2026
Photo: Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov at a single picket “Freedom for all political prisoners!”/Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Yabloko expresses categorical protest against the intensifying pressure on civil society, the growth of political persecution and the widespread use of repressive practices against people who peacefully defend their convictions and the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution but trampled by the authorities.
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Posted: January 23rd, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Political Committee Decisions, Без рубрики.
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Actions of writing letters to political prisoners in Moscow and Russia’s regions: schedule for January and February
Press Release, 21.01.2026
Yabloko invites all Russian citizens to join the action of writing letters to political prisoners, a regular monthly action held at the party’s offices in Moscow and Russia’s regions. During the action anyone can sign a postcard or compose a letter to a person persecuted on political grounds for their words, thoughts or honest work. For participants’ convenience, Yabloko regularly updates the schedule of actions of writing letters to political prisoners in the Moscow and other cities across the country.
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Posted: January 21st, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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Grigory Yavlinsky on the common perspective for Russia, Ukraine and Europe
Zhivoi Gvozd YouTube channel, 20.01.2026
Watch the video on YouTube switching into English subtitles
It is only possible to seriously discuss an immediate ceasefire agreement if one can see a perspective for how Russia, Ukraine and Europe will continue to build their relationships. Russia can only be preserved if there is a vision of safe and positive development for the Russian state for decades to come. Ukraine’s statehood and sovereignty can only be preserved if there is an understanding of its future structure — where the country will be heading in fundamentally different geopolitical conditions in the coming years.
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Posted: January 21st, 2026 under Foreign policy, Human Rights, Russia-Eu relations, Russia-Ukraine relations, Russia-US Relations, Без рубрики.
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Pskov Yabloko wins in court against Ministry of Finance: the Russian Federation now owes the party over 400,000 roubles for unlawful removal from elections
Press Release, 20.01.2026
Photo by Anatoly Zhdanov, Kommersant
On 20 January, Pskov Regional Court upheld Pskov Yabloko’s right to compensation for the unlawful removal of the party’s lists in Opochka and Novorhzev districts. The Ministry of Finance attempted to challenge the district courts’ decisions but lost, and now the Russian Federation has a financial obligation to the party amounting to over 400,000 roubles.
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Posted: January 21st, 2026 under Elections, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Judiciary, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2023, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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Court extends Konstantin Smirnov’s detention for another three months
Press Release, 20 January 2026
Photo: Konstantin Smirnov / Photo by Vidsboku media
On 20 January, Ryazan Regional Court extended the detention period for Konstantin Smirnov, the leader of Yabloko in Ryazan, well-known regional journalist and editor-in-chief of the regional media outlet Vidsboku, for another three months, until 30 April 2026.
Smirnov has already been held in a pre-trial detention centre for almost a year on a case concerning so-called “extortion”. He does not admit guilt.
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Posted: January 20th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Regional policies and Local Self-Governing, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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Kirill Goncharov: “The refusal of the Moscow Electoral Commission to appoint Yabloko representatives to territorial electoral commissions is politically motivated”
Press Release, 20 January 2026
Photo: Kirill Goncharov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Kirill Goncharov, Chairman of Moscow Yabloko, has criticised the refusal by the Moscow Electoral Commission to include party representatives in territorial electoral commissions (TECs). Goncharov calls the decision “politically motivated” and emphasises that Moscow Electoral Commission’s arguments “do not stand up to scrutiny”: the refusal is explained either by the lack of experience in electoral commissions of some candidates from Yabloko, or by Yabloko’s absence as a faction in the State Duma.
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Posted: January 20th, 2026 under Elections, Governance, Human Rights, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2026, State Duma Elections, State Duma Elections 2026, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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“Total Counteraction”: Anna Cherepanova on how the Mayor and Chairman of Veliky Novgorod’s Duma are blocking Yabloko’s work
Press Release, 19.01.2026
Anna Cherepanova, Yabloko Deputy Chair and MP from Yabloko in the Veliky Novgorod City Duma, has made a statement in which she described in detail how the Novgorod Mayor, Alexander Rozbaum, and the Chairman of the Novgorod Duma, Konstantin Somov, are sabotaging Yabloko’s work. According to Cherepanova, she has to fulfil her duties as an MP and uphold the interests of residents under conditions of “total counteraction”. She provided several telling examples, supporting them with documentation: in each case described, the issue concerned the interests of Novgorod residents, the Novgorod budget, its infrastructure and wellbeing.
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Posted: January 20th, 2026 under Elections, Governance, Human Rights, Political Parties, Regional and Local Elections, Social Policies, YABLOKO against Corruption, YABLOKO Against the Parties of Power, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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17 years since the murder of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova: Yabloko lays flowers to the site of tragedy and demands installation of a memorial plaque
Press Release, 19 January 2026
Photo: Portraits of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova / Photo by Moscow Yabloko
19 January 2026 marked 17 years since the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova – prominent leaders of the anti-fascist movement. They were shot dead on Prechistenka Street in Moscow by activists from a far-right extremist organisation. On the anniversary of this tragedy, Yabloko leaders and supporters laid flowers at the site where Markelov and Baburova were killed, after which party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov appealed to the Mayor of Moscow demanding the installation of a memorial plaque on Prechistenka.
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Posted: January 20th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, YABLOKO Against Nationalism, Extremism and Xenophobia, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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Yabloko demands Moscow police investigate destruction of Anna Politkovskaya memorial plaque
Press Release, 18 January 2026
Photo by Valeria Rait
Yabloko Party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov addressed Oleg Baranov, the head of the Moscow Depratment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, demanding an investigation into an act of vandalism, requesting video footage from nearby CCTV cameras and opening a criminal case under Article 214 (vandalism) of the Russian Criminal Code. The urgent appeal was sent to the Moscow interior in connection with the destruction in Moscow of the memorial plaque to journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered 20 years ago.
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Posted: January 19th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.
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Alexei Arbatov Turns 75! Congratulations to Yabloko Federal Political Committee member on his jubilee
Press Release, 17.12.2026
Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 17 January, Alexei Georgievich Arbatov, member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko Party, Head of the Centre for International Security at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, celebrates his 75th birthday. Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov and Chairman of the Yabloko’s Federal Political Committee Grigory Yavlinsky extend their congratulations on his jubilee.
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Posted: January 19th, 2026 under Greetings.
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Yabloko Chairman in Dagestan Albert Esedov honoured with highest award of the Union of Journalists of Russia
Press Release, 16.01.2026
Photo: Albert Esedov and Magamed Ibragimov / Photo by the Union of Journalists of Russia in Dagestan
On 13 January, Russian Press Day, Albert Esedov, Chairman of Yabloko in Dagestan, member of the board of the Dagestan Regional Branch of the Union of Journalists of Russia (UJR), and renowned journalist in Russia, was presented with one of the Union’s highest awards – the Badge of Honour “For Services”.
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Posted: January 19th, 2026 under Freedom of Speech, Greetings, Human Rights, Yabloko's Regional Branches.
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