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‘I’ll Break Your Head’: Russian Anti-War Candidate Gets Death Threats Ahead of Elections
Kyiv Post • • world
Key Points:
- Kirill Rumyantsev, a Russian anti-war opposition candidate and deputy head of Yabloko’s Saratov branch, reported receiving death threats and pressure to withdraw from the September State Duma elections, starting on August 6.
- The threats, delivered via phone and messaging apps, included violent language and warnings about targeting his family, with Rumyantsev filing a police report but refusing to withdraw his candidacy.
- Yabloko faces increasing political pressure ahead of the elections, including a lawsuit from Rodina party leader Alexei Zhuravlyov seeking to overturn Yabloko’s participation, amid accusations of foreign funding and campaign violations.
- Despite criticism from other parties and opposition figures abroad endorsing Yabloko, the party leadership denies foreign ties and emphasizes its stance against the Ukraine invasion and political repression.
- Rumyantsev has a history of anti-war activism and related pressure, including detention during protests, and is running in Saratov’s Balashov constituency for the State Duma in the upcoming elections.
