The prosecutor of Veliky Novgorod, Alexander Perebeinos, issued a formal warning about the inadmissibility of violating federal law to Anna Cherepanova, head of the regional branch of the liberal Yabloko party, and to Viktor Shalyakin, a candidate for the State Duma. The warning was prompted by the party's campaign video and audio spot titled "Russia needs peace! But we are not giving up!"
In the materials, the prosecutor said he found signs of incitement of social discord, discrediting of the Russian armed forces, and dissemination of unreliable information. The party's regional branch responded that none of these elements are present in the video.
As a result, Yabloko's television and radio advertising has been suspended until new materials are produced. The party said it will continue street campaigning.
The spot aired on VGTRK channels and the local radio station Radio 53 starting August 25. Two days later, the Novgorod regional election commission sent the materials to the prosecutor's office, citing alleged violations of the law.