The situation is under control.’ Why Yabloko was allowed to run in the State Duma elections and how the party could still be removed

‘The situation is under control.’ Why Yabloko was allowed to run in the State Duma elections and how the party could still be removed

Yabloko’s registration for the State Duma elections came as a surprise to many observers. As Vyorstka found, the decision to register Yabloko was delayed in the Kremlin until the very last moment, but they ultimately decided to let it run.

According to sources, this was done to show the weakness of the anti-war forces and to prevent the strengthening of New People — with the latter proving beneficial to the siloviki, who do not approve of the idea that First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko could get his own large faction in the State Duma.

At the same time, today the Supreme Court received a lawsuit from the Rodina party seeking to cancel the registration of Yabloko’s federal list. Under the law, if a claim is filed before voting day, the court must consider it within five days from the date it was received.

The Kremlin had counted on disputes around Yabloko within the democratic flank. “They’ll drown them themselves,” a source close to the Presidential Administration said, meaning that the Kremlin would not have to remove them. However, the presidential administration sees that the party has managed to ride the wave and is gaining popularity.

“They’re watching closely. If needed, the law allows them to remove it through the courts until September 9; the situation is under control. For now, there is no need for that,” a Vyorstka source close to the Kremlin claims.

Read about how the Kremlin’s logic and fears ran up against Yabloko in the State Duma elections in Vyorstka’s article (with VPN):

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