Press Release, 19.08.2026

Photo: The Ministry of Internal Affairs signboard / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Yabloko party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov has appealed to Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, demanding that he immediately halt the administrative persecution of citizens who, on 10 and 17 August 2026, were near the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation building, waiting to be admitted to open court hearings in the case concerning the party’s removal from the elections.

Rybakov appealed to the Interior Minister due to continued pressure from police officers on those who came to support Yabloko. On 17 August, despite no public events being held near the Supreme Court and citizens simply queuing at the pass office, police detained dozens of people. According to the party, most of those detained were subsequently released from police stations without any charges being filed, confirming the absence of any offence. The total number of detainees, according to various sources, was at least 35 people, with some reports citing more than 70 detentions over the course of the day.

However, the pressure continued after the court hearing. Police officers began visiting the homes of citizens who had been present at the court on 10 and 17 August, opening administrative cases against them under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (violation of the established procedure for holding a public event). Citizens are being summoned to police stations to have protocols of a violation drawn up, or are being detained at home and forcibly taken to a police station.

“I consider what is happening to be unacceptable pressure on citizens exercising their lawful right to attend an open court hearing. The attempt to portray people who were queuing at the Supreme Court’s pass office as participants in an unauthorised public event does not correspond to the actual circumstances. The openness of court proceedings is guaranteed by the Constitution of Russia. Prosecuting citizens simply for coming to court turns the exercise of a constitutional right into grounds for detention and administrative prosecution. This practice is clearly intended to intimidate and must be stopped immediately,” said Rybakov.

The Yabloko party points out that no assembly, rally, demonstration, procession or picket was held near the Supreme Court building on 10 and 17 August. Citizens came to the court to exercise their right of access to justice and did not breach public order.

It should be noted that on 10 August the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, acting on a claim brought by the Rodina party, ruled to annul the registration of Yabloko’s federal list for the State Duma elections, and on 17 August upheld that ruling, dismissing the appeal. The party considers the ruling to be politically motivated and the underlying accusations to be absurd.