The Sverdlovsk Youth Apple dissolved itself after the arrests. “The party is gradually being liquidated” - political scientist

The day before yesterday, April 29, security forcesdetained the leader of the regional branch of Yabloko, Maxim Petlin, as well as party member Yegor Tkachenko, former activist of the youth movement Elizaveta Kabak and two other supporters. They were questioned about last year's evening of letters to political prisoners, after which they were released. Equipment was also confiscated from the detainees.

The party called the pressure on activists an attempt to prevent Yabloko representatives from participating in the upcoming autumn elections to the legislative assembly of the Sverdlovsk region. Previously, Tkachenko and Petlin had already been detained at rallies in support of the persecuted. A protocol was drawn up against Tkachenko regarding “LGBT propaganda.”

A week ago, on April 24, security forces also detained the leader of the Irkutsk branch of the party, Grigory Gribenko. Soon the court arrested him for 12 days under an administrative article for drug use and demanded that he undergo treatment. An independent examination then did not find any prohibited substances in his body, while the state one allegedly found marijuana.

A few days earlier, the court fined the head of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of Karelia, Emilia Slabunova. She was found guilty of displaying “extremist” symbols in a non-existent post.

In addition to them, dozens of Yabloko supporters across the country were persecuted by the authorities. At least 10 people became involved in criminal cases, including the head of the Pskov branch and deputy chairman of the party, Lev Shlosberg.

Political scientist Ivan Preobrazhensky , with whom The Insider spoke, believes that the Kremlin is relying on the New People party, and Yabloko is gradually being removed from the political field:

“In Sergei Kiriyenko’s sector in the Kremlin, apparently, a decision has been made to strengthen the electoral base of the pseudo-liberal party he created, New People, and Yabloko is preventing this and is unlikely to be allowed before the 2026 elections. In general, the party, although it demonstrates loyalty, is gradually being liquidated: here the goals of the FSB, which (and not Kiriyenko) is the main person responsible for the elections, coincide with the goals of the presidential administration.”

The Yabloko party consistently opposes the war with Ukraine, demanding a transition to negotiations. Against this background, pressure on activists and structures associated with the party is intensifying.