A Russian court sentenced Lev Shlosberg, the deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony on Monday. According to the independent news outlet Mediazona, the sentence was issued in response to Shlosberg’s criticism of the war in Ukraine. During his trial, Shlosberg described the conflict as a catastrophe for Russia.
The charges against Shlosberg included discrediting Russia’s armed forces and spreading what the state characterized as false information about them. In a closing speech delivered last Friday in the city of Pskov, Shlosberg maintained his innocence and asserted that he was the victim of a political trial. He also used the appearance to repeat his call for a ceasefire in the ongoing war.
This sentencing follows recent legal actions against his political organization. On August 10, Russia’s Supreme Court issued a decision to ban the Yabloko party from participating in the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. Shlosberg has been a prominent figure within the party, which is known for its liberal platform and opposition to the current government's military policies.
The scale of this judicial action is centered on a single high-ranking opposition leader receiving a sentence of more than a decade, following a Supreme Court ruling that disqualified an entire political party from a nationwide election. Ordinary citizens who support the opposition or hold anti-war views will notice the absence of Yabloko candidates on their ballots. For Shlosberg, the day-to-day change is an immediate transition from political activity to 11 years of confinement in a penal colony, a restrictive type of correctional facility.
The decision reinforces the legal precedent for using "false information" and "discrediting" laws to penalize public dissent regarding the war in Ukraine. This sets a clear standard for how the Russian judiciary will handle criticism from established political figures ahead of the next election cycle. With the parliamentary vote occurring next month, the Yabloko party will remain excluded from the process. It is not yet known if Shlosberg’s legal team will file an appeal or what the specific date of the next month's election will be.