Yabloko leader convicted over criticism of Ukraine war
Russian opposition politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony after being convicted of “discrediting” the armed forces and spreading false information about them.
The 63-year-old politician condemned the verdict, saying the case was intended to punish him for his political and public views.
Shlosberg rejects charges
Shlosberg denied all allegations and used his closing statement to call for a ceasefire and political dialogue to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
His political party, Yabloko, said it would appeal the sentence.
Opposition under pressure
The ruling comes as Russia continues its crackdown on political dissent since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Criticism of the war has been heavily restricted under wartime censorship laws, with those convicted facing fines or lengthy prison sentences.
Yabloko barred from election
The verdict was delivered shortly before Russia’s Supreme Court rejected Yabloko’s appeal against a decision preventing the party from participating in September’s parliamentary elections.
Yabloko was the only registered political party in Russia to oppose the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
