The EU has said it is no surprise that Russia's Supreme Court has ruled that Yabloko, the only anti-war party on the ballot, should be barred from upcoming elections to the Russian State Duma.

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.