Statement by the Bureau of the St. Petersburg branch of the Yabloko party, 15.07.2024

Candidates for municipal deputies from the Yabloko party are being denied registration en masse. In the Admiralteysky, Central, Petrogradsky, Kirovsky and other districts of St. Petersburg, candidates are rejected registration on the same far-fetched grounds that do not correspond either to the law or to the actual circumstances, and the texts of the claims coincide almost word for word, including obvious typos. At the same time, electoral commissions neither accept any objections from candidates, nor provide arguments in favour of their speculations.

It is obvious that the campaign to exclude Yabloko candidates from the elections is coordinated from the top, and all the “claims” of the electoral commissions are of political, rather than legal nature.

The nomination of candidates for deputies of municipal councils was carried out in full compliance with the current laws and the By-Laws of the Yabloko party, all necessary documents were submitted to the electoral commissions.

However, the electoral system of St. Petersburg is fulfilling a political order, the purpose of which is to prevent candidates from the only political party, openly advocating a ceasefire, peace and freedom, from running in the elections and  create the illusion of popular support for what is happening.

We demand that the campaign preventing candidates from the Yabloko party from participating in municipal elections be stopped.

Yabloko candidates will appeal against the unlawful decisions of electoral commissions, and the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko will provide them with all possible support.

Alexander Shishlov,

Chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko