Lev Shlosberg, a deputy chair of the Yabloko party, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for discrediting the Russian military and spreading false information.

Judge Viktoria Malyamova of the Pskov City Court sentenced Lev Shlosberg, a prominent Russian opposition figure and deputy chair of the Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony. The conviction follows charges of repeatedly discrediting the Russian military and spreading false information about the Armed Forces. Shlosberg, who remained in Russia despite his public opposition to the war in Ukraine, had been under house arrest since June 2025.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

The charges against Shlosberg included a case regarding a debate recording posted on the social network Odnoklassniki, where he argued for an end to the war. A second charge involved a 2022 Telegram repost of a front page from The Daily Mirror that featured an image of Vladimir Putin and a bloodied woman. Shlosberg argued that the repost occurred before the enactment of the law against spreading false information about the military. During the closing arguments on August 14, none of Shlosberg's three defense lawyers were present. The judge denied a request to postpone the hearing and appointed a state lawyer, despite Shlosberg's objections. During his final statement, the judge repeatedly interrupted Shlosberg when he spoke about the necessity of a ceasefire.

Political Stance and Background

Shlosberg has maintained an antiwar position since 2022, consistently prioritizing an end to hostilities. This stance has led to conflicts with other opposition figures who have left Russia, whom Shlosberg criticized for supporting Ukraine's military actions. He was designated a 'foreign agent' in June 2023 and has faced multiple administrative fines. His history of political activity includes a 2014 report in the newspaper Pskovskaya Guberniya, which he then headed, regarding the deaths of Pskov paratroopers in eastern Ukraine. Following that report, Shlosberg was physically attacked and hospitalized.