Russian police begin detaining Yabloko supporters at their homes after election ban hearings

Russian police have begun detaining people at their homes after they attended gatherings outside the Supreme Court during hearings on the removal of the anti-war Yabloko party from upcoming parliamentary elections, the outlet RusNews reports.

According to journalists, at least four people have been hit with administrative charges of participating in an unauthorised rally that obstructed traffic and pedestrians. All four were held overnight at police stations.

Another detained activist was initially threatened with a charge of disobeying police, but his lawyer managed to get the charge downgraded to a non-arrestable offence, securing his client’s release. Several other activists were charged with violating rules on holding a public rally and were let go from police stations without being held overnight.

Human rights defender Maxim Rudnev said two people, a young man and a young woman, were detained under that same charge at their homes and held in police custody overnight.

The wave of home visits follows mass detentions outside the Supreme Court on Monday, when police detained more than 85 people during the appeal proceedings, RusNews reported at the time. Most were later released without formal charges, given only warnings against engaging in unlawful conduct.

The Supreme Court rejected Yabloko’s appeal, leaving in force the earlier ruling to remove the party from the ballot.

On 10 August, when the original lawsuit was heard, around 500 people had gathered outside the Supreme Court. In the days that followed, police began visiting the homes of people who came to show support for the party, though in most cases they only issued warnings and did not make detentions.