Press Release, 4.02.2026

Photo: Yelena Ivanova and Anton Kostryukov / Photo by Novgorod Yabloko

The Bureau of the regional branch of the Yabloko party in the Novgorod region adopted a statement on 4 February in which it expressed protest in connection with the persecution of fellow party members – Yelena Ivanova, Deputy Chairman of Novgorod Yabloko, and Anton Kostryukov, party member from Staraya Russa. This concerns, in particular, administrative prosecution under the article on “demonstration of extremist symbols”.

The cases of Yabloko members are being handled by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. A ruling on bringing Anton Kostryukov to responsibility has already been passed, whilst Yelena Ivanova has so far only been summoned to the supervisory agency for questioning. Novgorod Yabloko explains that the pressure on their fellow members is connected to publications from 2017 and 2021.

Statement by the Bureau of Novgorod Yabloko

adopted by the Bureau of the Novgorod Regional Branch of the Yabloko Party on 4 February 2026

The Novgorod regional branch of the Yabloko party states: systemic, targeted and politically motivated pressure on members of our party continues in Russia with the aim of depriving them of the right to participate in elections.

Since 2022, these practices have turned into open political persecution, when criminal and administrative legislation, arbitrarily interpreted by law enforcement agencies and courts, is being turned into an instrument for fighting the opposition and “filtering out” undesirable candidates at early stages of the electoral process.

The expanding application of vaguely worded provisions on “extremism”, “foreign agents”, “military censorship” and others arise particular concern as creating obstacles for opposition politicians from the Yabloko Party.

Under the pretext of fighting extremism, the authorities are effectively banning and persecuting dissent, whilst law enforcement bodies and courts are making decisions on the basis of formal criteria, using the law for the purposes of political repression. This dangerous tendency, familiar to us from the past, leads to the creation of an atmosphere of fear, when any deviation from the imposed course can be declared a crime.

In January 2026, Deputy Chairman of Novgorod Yabloko Yelena Ivanova and party member from Staraya Russa Anton Kostryukov were summoned to the Public Prosecutor’s Office because of publications on the social network VKontakte from 2017 and 2021, connected with FBK and Alexei Navalny. The purpose of such actions is obvious: under a formal pretext (administrative punishment for “the demonstration of extremist symbols” deprives a citizen of the right to be elected for one year) to block the participation of our colleagues in the elections to the State Duma and the Novgorod Regional Duma and to deprive voters of the opportunity to make an alternative choice.

Earlier, Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov was brought to responsibility for “the demonstration of extremist symbols” for a post of condolences, and St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly deputy Olga Shtannikova for a publication from 2013 (!) about an anti-corruption investigation. When condolences and discussion of corruption are declared an “offence”, this is no longer protection of public interests, this is a signal to everyone: “Keep silent”.

We believe that law enforcement agencies in the Novgorod region are concerned with politically persecuting the only opposition party – Yabloko, rather than fighting “extremism”. Monitoring of social networks is applied selectively and only to members of our party, whereas facts of public display of prohibited symbols on the pages of public figures and platforms in the region remain without response. Since 2023, the VKontakte page of Olga Borisova, Deputy Chairman of Novgorod Regional Duma and member of the [pro-government] United Russia party, as well as on the pages of the Novgorod Regional Television and the Novgorod Regional Duma, have publicly displayed neo-Nazi symbols that are banned in Russia. However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office “does not notice” this, and for some reason does not give these facts a legal assessment within the framework of the monitoring. Selective law enforcement is a direct destruction of the principle of equality before the law.

We connect the persecution of Novgorod Yabloko members not only with the approaching elections, but also with the principled anti-corruption work of the Yabloko faction in the Duma of Veliky Novgorod. Anna Cherepanova, MP of the Novgorod Duma and leader of the Novgorod branch of the party, demands objective and comprehensive prosecutorial investigation into the unjustified almost twofold increase in the salaries of Veliky Novgorod Mayor Alexander Rozbaum, Chairman of the City Duma Konstantin Somov and officials of local government bodies, as well as a thorough investigation of facts of corruption in the Duma of Veliky Novgorod. We can not rule out that Konstantin Somov, formerly a high-ranking official of the Public Prosecutor General’s Office, may be using his administrative resources and professional connections to organise pressure on political opponents. Authorities that fear srcutiny usually do not explain anything, they try to silence those conducting the scrutiny.

We state that the actions of the authorities:

1. Grossly violate the Constitution of Russia, which guarantees citizens freedom of thought and speech, equality of all before the law, and the right to elect and be elected.
2. Discredit the very idea of elections, turning them into a ritual without alternatives, devoid of meaning.
3. Undermine the foundations of a state governed by the rule of law, where the law should be the same for everyone, and not serve as an instrument in political struggle and suppression of dissent.
4. Create a dangerous precedent in which any citizen who dares to publicly disagree with the authorities can be declared an “extremist” or “foreign agent”, which leads to total suppression of civil society and destruction of public solidarity.

We demand the following:

– Immediately stop the politically motivated persecution of Yabloko party members Yelena Ivanova and Anton Kostryukov, and all citizens who are being punished for their political views, civic position and public activities.

– Repeal the repressive provisions on “extremism”, “foreign agents” and “military censorship” that are being used for political reprisals and fighting dissent.

– Ensure equal and fair conditions for all candidates to participate in elections in strict accordance with the Constitution and the law.

– Stop using the law enforcement and judicial systems for solving political tasks and ousting opponents.

Russia must be a state governed by the rule of law, and elections must be honest and free. Without this, neither development, nor trust, nor public accord, nor the future of our country are possible. The law must protect society from real threats – corruption, violence, and arbitrariness – and not serve as a weapon in the hands of the authorities to suppress competitors. The Yabloko Party acts exclusively by lawful methods. We shall defend our members and the right of citizens to choose.

Join Yabloko, become a candidate in the elections. We continue the struggle for a peaceful, democratic, free and prosperous Russia. We stand for a life without fear!