The Supreme Court ruling came just days after the Central Election Commission had unanimously approved the party's registration, prompting speculation that the initial approval was itself a Kremlin-orchestrated manoeuvre.

Russia’s highest court has ordered the only party opposing the Kremlin’s military action in Ukraine to be removed from the ballot in next month’s parliamentary election.

The case was brought by the nationalist, pro-Kremlin Rodina party, which is also running in the election.