Exiled Russian opposition figure Ilya Iachine has called for a coordinated effort to challenge the dominance of President Vladimir Putin's ruling party ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for September 20. Despite the near-certainty of a victory for United Russia, Iachine is urging Russians both within the country and abroad to vote against the ruling party. His initiative, called "Noon for Peace," aims to have voters participate at noon local time on election day to demonstrate the size of the opposition. Iachine, who has been in exile for several years, is based in Berlin and is leading a party formed in June in Germany's capital. The party seeks to unite various Russian opposition groups, which have long been divided, in an effort to end the war in Ukraine and promote human rights. He is a close ally of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned and later died in custody in 2024. The Russian Supreme Court recently banned the only war opposition party, Iabloko, from participating in the upcoming legislative elections. Iachine stated that the upcoming elections are not being considered as genuine by his group. The Russian authorities have maintained strict control over the electoral process for years, with human rights defenders highlighting widespread fraud during past elections. Critics argue that the political landscape in Russia is tightly controlled, leaving little room for genuine opposition. Repression in Russia has reached levels not seen since the end of the Soviet era following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Thousands of people have been imprisoned or fined for criticizing the conflict, and prominent opposition figures are either imprisoned, in exile, or deceased. Demonstrations against the Kremlin are nearly nonexistent due to strict laws against unauthorized gatherings and the widespread use of surveillance and arrests. Iachine was sentenced to eight years in prison in late 2022 for opposing "the killing of civilians" in the Ukrainian city of Bucha during the Russian assault. He was released two years later during a historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. His release brought international attention to the plight of political prisoners and the growing crackdown on dissent in Russia.