A Russian court has convicted prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg of discrediting the military and spreading false information about the Russian armed forces, sentencing him to 11 years and one month in prison. The conviction, handed down Monday, stems from Shlosberg's vocal opposition to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Shlosberg, 63, a senior member and deputy chairman of the Yabloko party, the only official political party openly opposing the war, was tried in Pskov. The charges were based on a debate in which he called for an end to the conflict and a post on his Telegram channel that included a British tabloid front page with an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the headline: "Her blood ... his hands." Shlosberg has maintained his innocence, calling the charges unfounded.
This marks Shlosberg's second trial in two years. He has also been designated a “foreign agent,” a label in Russia that carries significant stigma and invites increased government scrutiny. He had previously been convicted of violating foreign agent regulations.
Detained in pre-trial custody since December 2025 on the current charges, Shlosberg made a final statement to the court on Friday, reflecting on Russia's trajectory. "For 30 years, Russia has traveled a path from hopes for freedom to the almost complete destruction of human and civil rights and freedoms," he stated. He also asserted that the war in Ukraine has impacted every Russian citizen and predicted widespread shock once the full death toll becomes known.
The Yabloko party described the sentence as “brutal,” attributing it to Shlosberg's "love of the Motherland and calls for a ceasefire." The party announced its intention to appeal the verdict.
Amnesty International condemned the ruling, with Marie Struthers, the group's Eastern Europe and Central Asia director, calling the prosecution and sentencing “blatant reprisals for exercising his right to freedom of expression to call for peace.” The organization urged Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Shlosberg, quash his conviction, repeal legislation criminalizing peaceful anti-war expression, and respect fundamental freedoms for all Russians.