Russia's liberal Yabloko party is holding its pre-election congress in Moscow, where it is nominating candidates for the State Duma and regional legislative assemblies. Attendees were greeted at the entrance by posters of Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica' and Vasily Vereshchagin's 'The Apotheosis of War,' according to the Telegram channel Sota Project.
Party chairman Nikolai Rybakov delivered a speech focused on the need to end the war, illustrating his points with pre-prepared posters, Sota Project reported.
In the party's election platform, presented by Rybakov, Yabloko calls for an immediate ceasefire agreement, prevention of nuclear escalation, and a return to diplomacy and negotiations, Novaya Gazeta Europe reported. The party also advocates for freedom of information and an end to political repression.
The congress initially moved into a closed session but later resumed its broadcast, which is expected to continue until 3 a.m. Candidates from the federal part of the party list have begun speaking.
According to Sota Project, Yabloko plans to field candidates in Moscow including Sergei Mitrokhin (in the Central Administrative District), Anna Shatunovskaya-Burno, Kirill Goncharov, and Denis Bolshakov. The electoral districts for three of the candidates, except Mitrokhin, have not yet been disclosed. The list was expected to be approved at the congress.