Ukrainian court bans pro-Russian party Opposition Platform — For Life

Lviv Administrative Court of Appeal has banned the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform — For Life, reports Ukraine's Ministry of Justice.

All property, funds, and other assets of the party will become the property of the state. This applies to regional, city, and district organizations belonging to Opposition Platform — For Life, as well as primary centers and other structural entities. However, the decision can still be appealed to the Supreme Court within 20 days.

The history of the Opposition Platform — For Life party dates back to 1999: then, the party was called the All-Ukrainian Union Center. In 2016, the party was reconstituted by Vadim Rabinovich and Yevhen Murayev under the name For Life. Since 2018, Putin's close ally, Viktor Medvedchuk, has been the party's chairman. On April 12, 2022, Medvedchuk was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine when he was trying to flee from Ukraine.

Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko told hromadske that representatives of Opposition Platform — For Life started criticizing Russia and even dissolving their factions in the local councils for various reasons after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, allegedly in fear of criminal liability. However, on March 3, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on responsibility for collaboration.

In total, the court has already banned ten pro-Russian parties in Ukraine:

• Opposition Bloc
• Socialists
• Nashi
• Derzhava
• Volodymyr Saldo Bloc
• Fair Development Party
• Socialist Party of Ukraine
• Left Opposition
• Party of Shariy
• Opposition Platform — For Life

Background

In March, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided to suspend all activities of parties with ties to Russia during martial law in Ukraine. On May 3, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill banning pro-Russian parties in Ukraine, and on May 14, it was signed by the President.