Russian Anti-War Candidate Takes Risky Path Into Parliament Election
Polina Lermant is campaigning for peace despite growing pressure on political opponents and war critics in Russia.
Polina Lermant, a 24-year-old candidate for Russia's liberal Yabloko party, is campaigning against the war in Ukraine and calling for peace ahead of the State Duma election. Her campaign comes as political opponents and critics of the war face increasing legal and political pressure.
As Russia prepares for a parliamentary election, one young candidate is taking an unusually direct position on the country's war in Ukraine.
Polina Lermant, 24, is running in Moscow for Yabloko, a liberal political party that openly opposes the war. Her campaign message is centered on peace, political expression and the possibility of ending the conflict through negotiations.
But campaigning on that platform carries significant risks in today's Russia, where authorities have introduced strict restrictions on public discussion of the military campaign and have prosecuted some critics over statements about the war.
A Campaign Built Around Peace
Lermant has been campaigning on the streets of Moscow, distributing leaflets encouraging voters to support peace. She has also spoken openly about her fears that political activity could lead to legal consequences.
The candidate told Reuters that her family is worried about the risks she faces. Her concerns come against a wider backdrop of arrests and prison sentences involving members of Yabloko who have made public comments about the war.
Lermant has also connected the current political climate with her family's history. She recalled that her great-grandfather was exiled during the Soviet era after being convicted of discrediting the Red Army, a historical experience she sees as a reminder of the dangers of political repression.
Pressure on Yabloko
Yabloko has faced serious obstacles ahead of the election. Many of its candidates were barred from running after a Russian Supreme Court ruling concerning electoral rules.
Lermant is among the candidates who remained in the race in Moscow because she is contesting a single-mandate constituency rather than running through the party-list system. Other Yabloko candidates have subsequently been disqualified.
The party currently has no representatives in Russia's national parliament. Its participation nevertheless gives it an opportunity to place its anti-war message before voters during an election in which most major parliamentary forces support the government's broader position on the conflict.
Russia's Parliamentary Election
The election is the first parliamentary vote since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine in 2022. The State Duma has 450 seats, and the governing United Russia party is expected to retain its dominant position.
Other parties represented in parliament, including the Communist Party, LDPR, Just Russia and New People, are also expected to compete for seats. Their positions on the war differ in emphasis, but none has adopted Yabloko's openly anti-war position.
For the Kremlin, the election is also an opportunity to demonstrate political stability while Russia faces economic pressure, labor shortages, high interest rates and the effects of Western sanctions.
Growing Interest in Peace Talks
Lermant says she has been encouraged by polling that indicates growing public support for peace negotiations. Reuters reported that polling from the independent Levada Center showed support for peace talks above 60%.
At the same time, measuring support for Yabloko nationally remains difficult. Major government-aligned polling organizations no longer regularly include the party in their pre-election surveys, while previous surveys generally placed its support in the low single digits.
The gap between public attitudes toward negotiations and support for specific political parties illustrates the complexity of Russia's current political environment.
Why Her Campaign Matters
Lermant's campaign is unlikely to change the balance of power in the State Duma on its own. But her candidacy provides a visible example of an opposition politician choosing to remain inside Russia and campaign publicly on an issue that carries substantial political risk.
Unlike opposition figures who have left the country, Yabloko has continued to operate within Russia's political system. That strategy has allowed the party to maintain a domestic platform, while also exposing its members to restrictions and legal pressure.
For Lermant, the central message is that Russians should have the opportunity to express their political views without fear and that peace should remain part of the country's political debate.
In a tightly controlled political environment, even a small campaign for peace can become a significant test of how much space remains for dissent and political choice.
