The Supreme Court of Russia delivered a ruling on the case brought by the Ministry of Justice regarding the liquidation of the People’s Freedom Party, known as PARNAS, according to reports from TASS. The Ministry noted that PARNAS does not maintain representation in half of the constituent entities of the federation, which current law requires.
In court, a representative for the party acknowledged that PARNAS has not taken steps to expand regional branches or remedy detected violations. The situation was described as deteriorating. Previously, regional branches, particularly in St. Petersburg, the Stavropol Territory, Novosibirsk, and Yaroslavl regions, had been affected by court decisions closing or restricting activity. PARNAS’s lawyer indicated he was unaware of closures and inspections of several regional branches. According to the Moscow City Court, as of early 2023 there were 47 regional branches in Russia. During the liquidation process that began the previous year, branches in Karelia, the Tyumen region, and other subjects faced various administrative actions.
The decision by the Supreme Court has not yet taken legal effect and remains subject to appeal before the appellate authority. This status implies that further procedural steps may alter the outcome for the party and its regional structures. The material is presented with attribution to TASS, and readers should follow official court communications for any updates.
Suspension of registration
In June 2021, the Ministry of Justice suspended PARNAS’s registration for a period of three months. It was reported that PARNAS submitted a registration document concerning a person authorized to act without power of attorney for the party. The ministry later clarified that the submitted documents did not meet the legal requirements, resulting in the temporary suspension of registration until September 2. The suspension was lifted after violations were corrected, but PARNAS could not participate in the elections to the State Duma of the VIII convocation.
During spring 2022, it was reported that the party’s head, Mikhail Kasyanov, who served as prime minister from 2000 to 2004, left Russia following the onset of the special military operation in Ukraine. The information reflects reporting from contemporary sources and subsequent verification indicates continued organizational challenges for the party.
History of the People’s Freedom Party
Kasyanov became one of the party’s co-chairs in 2010 when PARNAS held its founding congress in Moscow. His leadership was alongside other notable figures, including Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Ryzhkov. In 2012 the People’s Freedom Party merged with the Russian Republican Party. The merged entity branded itself as Europe’s choice and positioned itself in opposition to the current government.
Key goals outlined in the program included reducing political monopoly, increasing public oversight of governmental institutions, intensifying the fight against corruption, and diminishing the economy’s dependence on raw materials. In the summer of 2015 the organization adopted the name People’s Freedom Party again, with Kasyanov elected as chairman. In September 2016 PARNAS participated in State Duma elections for the first time but did not secure seats, achieving 0.73 percent of the vote and finishing 11th in a field of 14 parties. At present, the party has no representation at federal, regional, or local legislative levels.
Financial disclosures submitted to the election commission showed that in 2021 PARNAS received approximately 3.3 million rubles from individuals in donations. The majority of the party’s budget appeared allocated to sustaining governing bodies. In March 2023, a proposal from a State Duma deputy suggested considering the liquidation of the Yabloko party on grounds of alleged extremist activity, reflecting ongoing debate about party status and activity within the broader political spectrum.