Press Release, 18.08.2025

Photo: Leader of Loknya Yabloko list in the 2023 elections Maria Skorodumova and party lawyers Vitaly Isakov and Maxim Kopytov in front of the courthouse in Loknya settlement / Photo by the regional branch of the party

Bezhanitsy District Court (court presence in Loknya) satisfied Pskov Yabloko’s lawsuit against the Russian Ministry of Finance for compensation in connection with the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation ruling of 18 March 2025, which confirmed constitutional violations in cancelling registration of seven unified candidates lists of Pskov Yabloko in the 2023 municipal elections, including the unified list of candidates for elections of deputies to the Loknya District Assembly.

Bezhanitsy District Court judge granted the application for compensatory mechanisms and awarded Pskov Yabloko 196,452 roubles compensation, of this, 96,452 roubles are actual electoral campaign expenses, 50,000 roubles for violation of the constitutional right to participate in elections, and 50,000 roubles compensation for persistence in achieving the legal goal of protecting their rights.

Maria Skorodumova, leader of the Loknya Yabloko list in the 2023 elections, was present at the court hearing.

This is already the third court decision granting Pskov Yabloko’s lawsuit against Russia’s Ministry of Finance, which, according to the Constitutional Court ruling, acts as defendant in such cases, since all courts of general jurisdiction are federal courts.

Earlier, Opochka District Court and Pushkinogorsk District Court (permanent court presence in Novorzev) also granted Pskov Yabloko’s lawsuits and awarded it compensation of 218,439 and 190,152 roubles, respectively.

Four more court processes lie ahead: in Krasnogrodsk, Pechory, Pytalovo and Strugo-Krasnensk districts.