Lev Shlosberg, 63, a prominent opposition leader in Russia, has been sentenced by a court in Pskov to eleven years and one month in a penal colony. The judge found him guilty of public actions aimed at discrediting the use of Russian armed forces, a charge brought after he posted remarks on social media that the state called false propaganda. The prosecution had demanded a twelve‑year sentence, but the court shortened it slightly.
Shlosberg rejected the charges as an illegal attempt to punish his political stance. He maintained that the trial was merely a mock investigation designed to silence dissent. The politician reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine and urged a broader political dialogue.
The verdict came minutes before Russia’s Supreme Court dismissed Yabloko’s appeal to participate in the September parliamentary election. Yabloko, Russia’s sole registered party to oppose the 2022 full‑scale invasion, was already banned from the ballots earlier this month after allegations that it supported the international LGBT movement, which the court lists as extremist. The anti‑war party also faces accusations of copyright infringement from the pro‑Kremlin nationalist Rodina.
While all other participating parties back the war, Yabloko’s detention and removal from the election underscore the shrinking space for opposition voices. Opinion polls show a declining share for the ruling United Russia, but most analysts believe the Kremlin will control the election outcome. Independent observers are unable to fully monitor the electoral process amid increasing restrictions.
