Russian opposition party leader is cited for ‘petty hooliganism’ after writing pro-peace, pro-ceasefire statements on his election ballot

Filed 5h ago · Via Meduza · The Buffoon Desk

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Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

Photo: European Parliament · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Yabloko Party leader Nikolai Rybakov has been cited for petty hooliganism after spoiling his ballot on September 20 with messages reading 'Yabloko: For peace' and 'Yabloko: For a ceasefire agreement,' the party's press office said. The official cited reason was 'voting against all parties' at his St. Petersburg polling station.

Yabloko, the only party to run antiwar slogans in its campaign, was removed from the ballot entirely over alleged copyright and campaigning violations, prompting the party to urge supporters to spoil their ballots in protest instead.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

✒ FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

When the ballot box can't take a man writing 'for peace' on a slip of paper, you have to wonder what the box is for. They tossed his party off the ballot over copyright, then wrote him up for scribbling on what was left. Seems like a lot of paperwork to protect an election that was never in any danger of surprising anybody.

Source: Read the original at Meduza → Scored: Miri's Magic Dance · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0

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