Russian Court Convicts Lev Shlosberg for Discrediting Military and Bars Yabloko Party from Parliamentary Elections

A Russian court convicted Lev Shlosberg, a senior member of the Yabloko party, for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. Shlosberg received a sentence of 11 years and one month in prison for "discrediting" and spreading "false information" about the Russian military. The charges stemmed from his public calls for a ceasefire and a Telegram post featuring a British tabloid image of a bloodied woman next to Vladimir Putin, captioned "Her blood... his hands." Simultaneously, Russia’s Supreme Court upheld a decision to bar the Yabloko party from the upcoming parliamentary elections. The party, which is the only official political entity overtly opposing the war, was disqualified by the nationalist Rodina party, which accused Yabloko of being a "seditious foreign agent." The Kremlin's move reflects a growing intolerance for criticism of the invasion as the war's economic and domestic consequences, such as gas shortages and inflation, begin to affect ordinary Russian citizens. Despite the ban, Yabloko has seen a surge in membership applications, with supporters seeking a platform for peace and freedom.

Sources

• The Bulwark
  The Real Danger of Russia’s Fake Elections - by Cathy Young
• CNN
  Russian court jails Kremlin critic for 11 years for opposing the war in Ukraine
• The New York Times
  Barred From Ballot, a Party Becomes a Vessel for Russians’ Discontent
• Meduza
  8,000 people apply to join anti-war Yabloko amid its removal from Russia’s State Duma race. That’s twice the party’s current membership.
• Forbes
  Putin Is Afraid Of An Election He Can’t Lose