Russia’s prominent anti‑war politician, Lev Shlosberg, has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for “discrediting” the armed forces and spreading false information, according to a Pskov court.
Shlosberg, 63, rejected the verdict as a persecution of his political and civil position, insisting the trial aimed to punish him for his outspoken stance against the war.
The Yabloko party, of which Shlosberg is deputy head, announced that it will appeal the sentence, while the party itself has been barred from the September parliamentary elections after a Supreme Court ruling in May.
Yabloko is the sole registered party to oppose Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022, whereas all other participating parties endorse the war.
Since the conflict began, any remaining opposition voices have been suppressed under wartime censorship laws, risking hefty fines or lengthy prison terms.
During the trial Shlosberg was convicted of “public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation,” a charge following his social media posts. The prosecution had sought 12 years and one month in prison.
Shlosberg described the proceedings as an “imitation of an investigation” that merely sought to achieve an illegal goal, and he reiterated his call for a ceasefire and political dialogue.
Yabloko was struck off the ballot earlier this month after accusations that the party publicly supported the “international LGBT movement,” which the Supreme Court designates as extremist. The ruling was challenged by the pro‑Kremlin Golden Alliance, who also accused Yabloko of copyright infringement.
Only Yabloko maintains a platform opposing the war, while the remaining 10 parties participating in the September election fully support it. The Kremlin’s mandate is expected to prevail despite a dip in its polling numbers.
Independent election monitoring in Russia remains severely limited, curtailing oversight of the electoral process.
