Nikolai Rybakov

Nikolai Rybakov is the leader of the Yabloko party, Russia's only officially registered political party that opposes the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. He is newsworthy because Russia's Supreme Court has barred Yabloko from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This decision came after a lawsuit, reportedly brought by the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina, accused Yabloko of receiving undeclared campaign support, particularly from Western sources, which the party denies. The court upheld the suit, removing Yabloko from the ballot. This event highlights the intolerance of anti-war views within Russia and further restricts the limited space for dissent, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Rybakov was present at the Supreme Court hearing where the decision was made.