Russia Imposes 11‑Year Prison Term on Anti‑War MP Lev Shlosberg
Russia has sentenced well‑known anti‑war opposition MP Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in a penal colony, a blow that comes as the Kremlin furthers its campaign to silence dissent.
Shlosberg, 63, was found guilty of discrediting the armed forces after he criticised the state’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a charge that prosecutors say stemmed from his recent social‑media posts. The court in Pskov, a north‑western city, imposed the sentence after a trial that critics say was a mock trial designed to end the case.
The condemned MP denied the allegations, calling the proceedings an imitation of an investigation and reiterating his call for a cease‑fire and political dialogue. His deputy‑head role in the liberal Yabloko party—Russia’s only registered opposition party that opposed the invasion—adds to the significance of the verdict.
Just minutes after Shlosberg’s sentencing, the Supreme Court rejected Yabloko’s appeal to remain in the upcoming parliamentary elections, effectively banning the party from contesting seats. The party’s withdrawal follows accusations that it publicly supports an extremist international LGBT movement and that it infringes on copyright through its activities.
This development underscores Moscow’s tightened grip on the political arena. With most of the remaining political parties openly supporting Putin’s war and state‑run polls at a low indication of 32.1 %, the crackdown remains a major obstacle for independent opposition voices and external observers.
