The Supreme Court of Russia has ruled to liquidate the political party known as the People’s Freedom Party, abbreviated PARNAS, following a decision tied to the Ministry of Justice. Official accounts from Interfax, relayed by the party’s press service, confirm the court action and the resulting dissolution of PARNAS as a legal entity.
The court extended its decision to all regional branches and other organizational units associated with the party. The grounds cited include an insufficient number of local branches within PARNAS and the filing of claims against certain branches by tax authorities and the Ministry of Justice. This broad liquidation means that provincial offices, regional committees, and auxiliary structures faced the same legal fate as the central party organization under the court’s ruling.
In response, PARNAS contests the court’s claims and has requested dismissal of the case. Party representatives indicate they were unaware that several branches had already been closed, asserting that the scope of the liquidation may extend beyond what they understood at the outset of the proceedings.
The party’s leadership saw notable changes in the months prior to the ruling. Konstantin Merzlikin, who once chaired the political council bureau of the organization, led PARNAS during a period of internal reform and activity, while Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Prime Minister of Russia, reportedly left the country as part of the evolving political landscape surrounding the party. These developments occurred amid broader discussions about the party’s direction and its role within the national political scene.