Press Release, 15.09.2025

Photo: Campaign billboard in Veliky Novgorod / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

In the recent elections, under conditions of ongoing “special operation” and state repressions against dissidents, Yabloko managed to get elected to the Kaluga City Duma, as well as four municipal councils in the Pskov Region. In total, the party nominated 270 candidates in 27 Russian regions this year, including a candidate for Governor of the Novgorod Region and candidates for deputies in two regional legislative bodies (the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions). Most candidates needed to submit to electoral commissions voters’ or municipal deputies’ signatures in support of their nomination. As a result, 164 candidates in 19 regions of Russia conducted their electoral campaign under the unified party slogan “For Peace and Freedom! For the Ceasefire Agreement!”. The political results of the election campaign were summarised the day before by Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov and party Analytical Centre head Ivan Bolshakov.

Legislative restrictive barriers, long court sessions to remove Yabloko candidates from elections, self-imposed restrictions by printing houses and advertising agencies in working with opposition candidates, as well as electronic voting and “traditional” violations at polling stations became obstacles for Yabloko candidates that were often impossible to overcome. Nevertheless, in the fourth year of military actions between Russia and Ukraine, Yabloko managed to conduct a broad election campaign “For Peace and Freedom” involving hundreds of candidates and thousands of citizens.

In Kaluga, Yabloko City Council deputy Alexei Kolesnikov was re-elected for a new term. The candidate received 60.91%, gaining 2,460 votes of support.

In the Pskov Region, four Yabloko candidate lists passed the threshold in Gdov (23.38%), Dedovichi (5.62%), Novosokolniki (6.8%) and Pustoshka (6.48%). The regional branch will determine shortly who will receive the deputy mandates.

18 Yabloko candidates came second in the elections.

In the Tomsk City Duma elections, Denis Yarmosh received 24.45% of voter support, Yevgeny Kaverzin – 15.4%. Yabloko candidate for the Pskov City Duma deputy Andrei Tsatsenko gained 14.3% of voter support.

Second places in municipal elections were taken by Yabloko candidates: Alexei Akimenko (29.21%) in Agidel, the Republic of Bashkortostan; Valentin Fedotov (12.54%) in Suzunsky district, the Novosibirsk Region; Svetlana Ustyak (16.33%), Natalya Inozemtseva (33.33%) and Marina Khasanova (13.18%) in Seversk, the Tomsk Region; Igor Khomechko (18.78%) in Kolsky district, the Murmansk Region; Sergei Abramkov (28.72%) in Vytegorsky district, the Vologda Region; Valentina Komkova (17.41%) in Miass, the Chelyabinsk Region; Lyubov Belkina (19.06%), Maya Isakova (18.04%), Irina Mistryukova (17.94%), Lyubov Mikheeva (28.57%) and Igor Turaev (18.46%) in Medvezhyegorsky district, the Republic of Karelia, as well as candidate in Sergei Erkoev (29.43%) in Muezersky district, the Republic of Karelia.

We should also note the voting results in Tomsk, where the party list fell short by 0.14% of passing the threshold for the City Council elections: at the polling station covering the district of Academgorodok (where many scientists live), Yabloko support was 27.27%. Compared to the previous City Council elections in 2020, three times more representatives of the scientific community and young people voted for the party.

The average percentage for Yabloko candidates in these elections was 11.44%.

Yabloko party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov addressed all election participants – Yabloko candidates, voters, campaign volunteers:

“Many had to overcome fear – after all, everyone knows about persecution for beliefs in our country. But you did it, you showed that there are many people in Russia who fight so that to killing of people ceased.

But the authorities also have fear – and this fear is insurmountable. Fear of higher-ranking superiors – about the result in the voting protocols. Fear of citizens – what if they really come and vote as they think?

According to polling results, Yabloko’s position on immediate signing of a ceasefire agreement is already supported by 58% of Russian citizens.

We will continue to do everything possible for peace to come and for people to stop dying. I thank everyone who joined us and supported us with their vote.”