Russia Sentences Yabloko Leader Lev Shlosberg To 11 Years Over Anti-War Statements

A Russian court on Monday sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in prison after convicting him on charges stemming from his criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine. The verdict is the latest in a series of cases against political opponents and critics of the Kremlin as authorities tighten restrictions on dissent ahead of next month's parliamentary election. Shlosberg, a senior figure in the Yabloko party, has long been one of the more outspoken political voices against Moscow's military campaign.

The 63-year-old politician is Yabloko's deputy chairman and previously served in the regional legislature of Pskov from 2016 to 2021. He stood trial on charges of "discrediting" the Russian military and spreading what Russian authorities described as "false information" about the country's armed forces. The charges stem from his public opposition to the war and criticism of the government's handling of the conflict. His conviction and lengthy prison sentence add to a growing list of cases in which Russian opposition figures have faced criminal prosecution over statements or activities deemed unacceptable by the authorities.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of a broader crackdown on anti-war voices since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian authorities have introduced and enforced laws that impose severe penalties for spreading information about the military that officials consider false or for actions deemed to discredit the armed forces. Rights groups and opposition activists have repeatedly said the measures have been used to silence critics, while the Kremlin has defended the restrictions as necessary to counter what it describes as misinformation and threats to national security.

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Shlosberg's conviction also carries significance because of his association with Yabloko, one of Russia's few remaining opposition parties. Yabloko has openly opposed the war in Ukraine, setting it apart from other officially registered political organisations that have either supported the Kremlin's policies or avoided direct confrontation over the military campaign. The party has continued to face political and legal obstacles as authorities have narrowed the space available for anti-war and opposition activity.

In a separate ruling on Monday, Russia's Supreme Court upheld an earlier decision to prevent Yabloko from taking part in the September 18-20 parliamentary election. The court rejected the party's appeal, effectively leaving it off the ballot for the upcoming vote. The decision further limits the opportunities available to organised opposition groups seeking to campaign through formal political channels and comes at a time when the Kremlin is facing little institutional challenge from openly anti-war parties.

The cases against Shlosberg and Yabloko highlight the increasingly restrictive environment for political dissent in Russia. Shlosberg's prison term means that a veteran opposition politician will spend more than a decade behind bars for conduct authorities have linked to his public criticism of the military campaign. Meanwhile, Yabloko's exclusion from the parliamentary ballot removes one of the country's most visible openly anti-war political parties from the electoral contest. Together, the rulings demonstrate the continued pressure on individuals and organisations challenging Moscow's narrative about the war, now in its fifth year.

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