Press Release, 24.04.2026

Photo: Anton Kostryukov / Photo by Novgorod Yabloko

The Staraya Russa District Court has fined Yabloko party member Anton Kostryukov 1,000 roubles under the provision concerning “displaying extremist symbols” (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The court found Anton guilty of posting a photograph of Alexei Navalny in 2020, that is, long before the judicial ruling designating the politician as an extremist, Novgorod Yabloko reports.

According to the statement of the Novgorod branch of Yabloko, there is no evidence of guilt in Kostryukov’s case. The politician lives in Staraya Russa; however, according to a certificate provided by the VKontakte social network, the photographs that served as the basis for initiating the case were geolocated as having been posted from St.Petersburg.

“Anton was brought to administrative liability on the second attempt. Two months ago, a judge of the Staraya Russa District Court returned the ruling to the public prosecutor’s office on account of procedural deficiencies. Despite the fact that these deficiencies were never rectified, another judge found Anton Kostryukov guilty,” Novgorod Yabloko reports.

Should the ruling enter into legal force, Anton Kostryukov will be barred from standing as a candidate in elections for one year. The regional branch points out that preventing the politician from participating in the 2026 elections was the very purpose for which the case was initiated.

The court ruling will be appealed, Novgorod Yabloko emphasises.

It should be noted that five Yabloko leaders and activists have already received six fines under Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences to date. Those previously fined include: party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov, deputy of Legislative Assembly deputy of St.Petersburg Olga Shtannikova, leader of Pskov Yabloko and regional Legislative Assembly deputy Artur Gaiduk, leader of Karelian Yabloko and Honoured Teacher of Russia Emilia Slabunova, and Yelena Ivanova, Deputy Chair of the Novgorod branch of Yabloko.

Two cases, including an administrative report — against Alexander Shishlov, Coordinator of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party and Leader of the Yabloko faction in the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly — is due to be heard by the court on 24 April and 30 April.