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Lev Shlosberg sentenced to over 11 years in prison for criticizing Russian military actions

Lev Shlosberg, a senior member of the liberal opposition party Yabloko, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony by a court in Pskov. The conviction stems from charges of "discrediting" the Russian armed forces and spreading "false information" regarding the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Shlosberg, who described the war as a "bloody game of chess," was prosecuted for public actions including a video debate and social media posts. While the prosecution demanded a longer sentence, Shlosberg maintained his innocence, characterizing the trial as a political move to punish his civil position. He called for an immediate ceasefire and a political dialogue, noting that the true death toll of the war will eventually cause the nation to "shudder." Simultaneously, the Russian Supreme Court upheld a ban on Yabloko from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Yabloko remains the only registered party to overtly oppose the war, and the party leadership has expressed that they will appeal the ruling, which they view as a barbaric sentence for their advocacy for peace.

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