Press Release, 29.09.2026

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov has been charged under Article 20.1(1) of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (“petty hooliganism”). The charge was prompted by his vote against all parties at a polling station in St. Petersburg on 20 September.

The article defines petty hooliganism as “a breach of public order expressing manifest disrespect for society, accompanied by obscene language in public places, offensive harassment of citizens, or the destruction of or damage to the property of others”. This charge was prompted by his vote against all parties at a polling station in St. Petersburg on 20 September.

On that occasion, the Yabloko leader invalidated all four of his ballots because there were no Yabloko candidates on them. On the ballots, Rybakov wrote the main demands of Yabloko’s programme: “For Peace”, “For Freedom”, “For a Life Without Fear” and “For a Ceasefire Agreement”.

Rybakov was detained in St. Petersburg at 6 a.m. on 29 September. Police took him off the train on which he was due to return to Moscow and escorted him to Police Department No. 19.

At the police station, a protocol of violation was drawn up against the Yabloko Chairman under Article 20.1(1) of the Code of Administrative Offences. Rybakov was then taken to the Vyborgsky District Court of St. Petersburg.

According to the police protocol, by his actions Rybakov “disregarded the interests of society and other voters, ignored the rules of decency and propriety, demonstrated his disrespect for society and violated public order”.

During the hearing, Rybakov stated that he had not insulted anyone and that he had a legal right to invalidate his ballot:

“I did not insult anyone at the polling station; I never insult anyone at all. This is confirmed by the testimony of witnesses contained in the case file: the Chair of the precinct electoral commission and a police major who was present at the polling station. I had no hooligan motives whatsoever. Nor did I damage any property in any way, let alone state property. My ballot has been declared invalid. According to the official protocol of the Central Electoral Commission, another 913,570 voters did the same. The very form of the voting results protocol provides for this possibility,” said Rybakov, who stressed once again that his ballot had not been damaged but was invalid.

Rybakov’s lawyer, Leila Abdullayeva, asked the court to dismiss the case owing to the absence of the elements of an offence. The court decided to adjourn the hearing until 7 October.