Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government is intensifying its crackdown on opposition figures ahead of September’s parliamentary elections.

Axar.az reports, citing the Telegraph, that at least 23 politicians have been barred from standing, while the opposition Yabloko party faces a potential ban.

Russia’s Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit seeking to disqualify the party.

“They want to remove us from the elections because we stand for peace, whereas they want to prolong the tragedy [of the war] indefinitely,” Rybakov said.

The crackdown comes amid growing public discontent over the war in Ukraine, economic problems and declining support for Putin and the ruling party.

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