Moscow: The Russian Supreme Court on Monday barred the country's only opposition party, Yabloko (Apple), from participating in parliamentary elections next month. The decision was made after a hearing in Moscow on a petition filed by the Rodina party and the Russian Prosecutor General's Office.

According to Anadolu Agency, the legal grounds for the court's decision included allegations of foreign funding and violations of extremism legislation by Yabloko. The Prosecutor General's Office argued that there was sufficient evidence to support the claim and thereby exclude the party from the upcoming State Duma elections.

In response to the allegations, Yabloko Chairman Nikolay Rybakov defended the party's financial activities, asserting that the funds in question were derived from the sale of foreign shares, in compliance with Russian law. Rybakov explained that the remaining foreign financing, amounting to 16,900 rubles (about $200), was sourced from transfers by Russian citizens residing abroad. He further stated that any funds from dubious or anonymous sources had been returned by the party.

Rybakov also emphasized that the issue of financing sources should have been scrutinized beforehand by Rosfinmonitoring and the Central Election Commission in preparation for the elections. The party now has the opportunity to appeal the court's decision within five days.

Russia is scheduled to hold elections for the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, from September 18-20. The main parliamentary parties include the ruling United Russia, the Communist Party, the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and A Just Russia. The New People party is also present in the current parliament, and various other parties are anticipated to participate in the September elections. Additionally, independent candidates will have the chance to run in single-member constituencies. These elections will coincide with regional and local votes taking place across the country.