Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist
The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the court faces sweeping U.S. financial sanctions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The prize recognizes the ICC's work while the United States has banned transactions with the court, frozen ICC assets in U.S. jurisdictions and given U.S. companies six months to wind down business.
A Russian court has granted Rodina’s lawsuit to remove Yabloko from the federal ballot amid allegations of foreign funding, copyright violations, and extremism. Supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court as the ruling was delivered; Yabloko plans to appeal. The party remains the only registered pro-peace liberal option amid a broader crackdown.
Nadezhdin, a veteran Russian liberal politician, has posted a video from Paris stating he is alive and free but not in Russia as he reassesses next steps after facing detentions, a foreign agent designation, and a ban from September’s elections. He previously challenged Putin and planned to run in 2024 and 2026 elections but was barred amid a crackdown on dissent.
A drone has crashed into a busy Gelendzhik beach on the Russian Black Sea coast, injuring around 40 people. Russian officials say the incident was a deliberate attack by Kyiv, while Kyiv denies civilian targeting. A specialist medical team is at the scene; several victims are in serious condition. The event follows Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and related incidents in Ukraine.
Russia's Supreme Court has revoked the registration of Yabloko's federal list for September's State Duma elections after upholding a suit by the nationalist Rodina party that accused it of receiving foreign funding, copyright violations and promoting extremism. Supporters gathered outside the court and dozens were detained; party leaders have vowed legal appeals.
Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of Yabloko, has been sentenced to 11 years and 1 month in prison for discrediting the Russian armed forces and spreading false information about the war in Ukraine. The case marks a new blow to Russia's dissidence as Yabloko faces election bans and authorities tighten controls.
Russia has held a three-day parliamentary election from Sept. 18–20 that is set to return a United Russia-dominated State Duma. Most anti-war candidates were barred, the liberal Yabloko party was disqualified from the nationwide list, voting is being held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, and Moscow reported large drone attacks and a sustained cyberattack on electronic voting in the capital.
Russia has held parliamentary elections with United Russia expected to cruise to victory. The vote, held under tightened censorship, is a gauge of public support for the war in Ukraine as Moscow claims drone attacks and calls for stability.
Preliminary results have shown President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia has secured about 57–58% of the party vote and is set to take roughly 355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments have denounced the ballot as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.