On September 8, 2026, Nizhny Novgorod Regional Court annulled the candidacy registration of Dmitry Smirnov, a State Duma candidate nominated by the Yabloko party in single-member constituency No. 133 (Avtozavodsky constituency, Nizhny Novgorod Region).[1][2] The grounds were an old social media post by the candidate in which his opponents identified prohibited symbols. Smirnov works professionally as a lighting technician.[2]
Background and lawsuit
The lawsuit seeking to annul the registration was filed by Alexey Rizovatov — a candidate from the Party of Pensioners, who was also running in constituency No. 133.[1][2] The basis for the lawsuit was a photograph of Lemmy Kilmister, frontman of the rock band Motörhead, which Smirnov had posted on social media following the musician's death. According to one publication, the photo was posted in 2015[1]; according to another, it was posted after Kilmister's death in 2025.[3] Around the musician's neck was a cross that the plaintiff deemed to be Nazi symbolism. Smirnov's side maintained that the image depicted a historical military decoration awarded long before the Nazi Germany era — as far back as the First World War.[2][3]
A further point of contention was another photograph of Smirnov — showing him with his arm outstretched. Rizоvatov considered the gesture to resemble a Nazi salute. The candidate's representative explained that in the photograph Smirnov was recreating the pose of the monument to Vladimir Lenin erected near the Nizhny Novgorod Yarmarka.[2][3]
Court ruling and consequences
The Nizhny Novgorod Regional Court granted the claim and annulled Smirnov's registration.[1] At the same time, an administrative report was drawn up against the candidate under Article 20.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences (public display of Nazi symbols); its hearing was scheduled in the district court for the same day — 8 September 2026.[1][3] Smirnov stated his intention to appeal the deregistration ruling, but acknowledged that his chances of being reinstated on the ballot were virtually nil: the vote had been scheduled for 18–20 September 2026.[3] In total, 40 candidates ran for the State Duma across five constituencies in Nizhny Novgorod Region.[2]
Sources
- vybor-naroda.org — A Nizhny Novgorod court removed the Yabloko candidate from the State Duma elections
- Newsroom24 — Nizhny Novgorod candidate Smirnov removed from elections over old photograph
- Zhivyom v Nizhnem — Nizhny Novgorod Yabloko State Duma candidate removed from elections over rocker photo — Zhivem v Nizhnem (archive)