INTERVIU. Nikolai Rîbakov, liderul partidului exclus din alegerile parlamentare din Rusia pentru că se opune războiului din Ucraina: „Toți am pierdut deja”

Russian parliamentary elections are set for September 18-20, 2026, with all participating parties supporting the war in Ukraine. Yabloko, the only anti-war party, was excluded from the ballot due to accusations of extremism and foreign funding. Nikolai Rybakov, Yabloko's leader, argues that the elections will not affect Putin's policies, as the Duma merely follows his directives. He emphasizes the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine before discussing future security guarantees. Despite 11 parties registering, only 10 will be on the ballot, with Yabloko's candidates facing significant challenges. The elections occur amid economic strains from the ongoing conflict.