Barred From Ballot, a Party Becomes a Vessel for Russians’ Discontent

The spotlight on the country’s only antiwar party has brought a spark to what had looked like another dull, tightly controlled election campaign. Reporting from the Russian Supreme Court in Moscow As Nikolai Rybakov, the leader of Russia’s only antiwar party, walked through central Moscow, the growing sentiment against the conflict in Ukraine was easy to see. While I tried to interview him on his way to a subway station, he was constantly approached by passers-by requesting selfies and asking questions. “Are you really against the war?” one young person asked him. “Are you seriously against blockages?” another asked, referring to the Kremlin’s wartime bans or restrictions on popular apps such as Facebook and Telegram. He added: “Are you really going to take the metro? Wow!” It was Friday, and Mr.

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