Decision by the Federal Bureau of Yabloko

Adopted on 15.09.2023, published on 22.09.2023

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The political regime that has developed in Russia can be characterised as electoral authoritarianism evolving into a personalistic dictatorship. While the institution of elections was formally preserved, voting lost its true meaning. In the situation of pressure on the institutions of civil society and the apathy of the majority of Russians, election campaigns in Russia do not lead to a change of power, political and personal changes, but formalised the figures chosen by the ruling group, as well as perform the function of “letting off public steam”. However, even under these conditions, elections can still serve as a tool for dialogue between the party and society and a mechanism for citizens to express their opinions.

The single voting day on 10 September, 2023 became one of the most difficult in the history of the Yabloko Party. The election campaign was conducting in the situation of lawlessness. Bans, persecutions, detentions, searches, removal from elections based on denunciations, physical violence and death threats against some candidates and campaign volunteers – these and other obstacles were erected in order to prevent people from hearing the word of peace – Yabloko was the only party, the candidates of which were telling the truth about the situation in the country, demanded a ceasefire agreement and a diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

Despite this, hundreds of Yabloko candidates waged an election campaign so that residents of 20 regions of the country could see and support the demands for peace, freedom, and preservation of human lives. These simple and clear words – basic humanistic values – were placed in all our campaign materials.

We thank all our voters who did not remain indifferent to the fate of the country and voted for our candidates. Every vote cast for Yabloko was extremely important.

We managed to maintain representation in the city dumas [parliaments] of Yekaterinburg, Veliky Novgorod and Krasnokamsk (the Perm region), as well as to replenish the team of municipal deputies of Yabloko in the city duma of Yasnogorsk (the Tula region) and the Council of Deputies of the urban settlement of Miloslavskoye (the Ryazan region). In spite of the fact that our candidates did not manage to win in other regions, dozens of thousands of citizens cast their votes “For Peace!” and for Yabloko. Thanks to the election campaign, they saw that they were not alone and that there was a force with which they could fight for the future of the country.

Despite the militaristic propaganda, the vote showed that a significant number of Russians have a desire to stop the bloodshed. This is a result that is very dear to us, and it gives us hope. The hope that it is possible to overcome fear, powerlessness and apathy. That there are quite a lot of opponents of violence, repression and isolation in our country, and if they come to the polls and vote, results can be achieved.

We will not abandon these people and will be their political representatives wherever possible and as long as necessary. At elections of any level in any region, in legislative assemblies and city councils, despite all prohibitions and restrictions, our slogan “For Peace and Freedom!” will be heard.

Unfortunately, we have to admit that people throughout the country failed to understand that voting is the way to change the situation in Russia. Without this understanding, nothing can be changed. We are convinced: if the majority of Russians go to the polling stations and demand peace and freedom from the authorities, peace and freedom will definitely come. The future of our country depends on all of us.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman