Anti-War Voice Silenced? Russia Hands Lev Shlosberg 11-Year Prison Sentence

A Russian court has sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in prison for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, as authorities intensify their crackdown on dissent ahead of next month’s parliamentary election.

Shlosberg, 63, a senior member and deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party, was convicted in Pskov on charges of “discrediting” and spreading “false information” about the Russian military. The charges stemmed from his calls for an end to the war during a public debate and a Telegram post featuring a British tabloid front page criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Shlosberg, who served in the Pskov regional legislature from 2016 to 2021, rejected the allegations as unfounded. He has been in pretrial detention since December 2025 and was also previously convicted of violating Russia’s regulations governing people designated as “foreign agents.”

In his final statement, Shlosberg said Russia had travelled from hopes of freedom toward the “almost complete destruction” of civil and human rights. Yabloko described his sentence as “barbaric” and said it would appeal. Amnesty International also condemned the verdict, calling it retaliation for Shlosberg’s exercise of his right to freedom of expression and urging Russian authorities to release him and repeal laws criminalising peaceful anti-war speech.

Separately, Russia’s Supreme Court upheld its decision to exclude Yabloko from the September 18-20 State Duma election, rejecting the party’s appeal. The Central Election Commission had initially approved Yabloko’s participation, but the Motherland Party challenged its candidacy, citing alleged campaign violations and accusing it of supporting positions that threatened Russia’s territorial integrity.

Yabloko rejected the allegations, but the Supreme Court sided with the complainant. Several supporters were reportedly detained outside the court. Party chairman Nikolai Rybakov said Yabloko would continue its legal challenge, while co-founder Grigory Yavlinsky said the ruling reflected a deepening crisis in Russia’s political system.

The developments underscore the shrinking space for political opposition and anti-war expression in Russia more than four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.