Russian court sentences anti-war politician Shlosberg to 11 years in jail

Lev Shlosberg has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and was charged over his participation in an online debate about the war and for sharing articles critical of it.(AFP) — A Russian court on Monday sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years in prison over his criticism of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.The 63-year-old is among the few Kremlin opponents who remained in Russia after it launched a sweeping crackdown on dissent following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The court in Pskov, northwestern Russia, found the deputy head of the Yabloko party guilty of “public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” sentencing him to 11 years and one month in prison.Asked by the judge whether he understood the verdict, Shlosberg said: “I feel sorry for you, Your Honor, you have to live with this.”Yabloko leaders Nikolay Rybakov and Grigory Yavlinsky called the ruling “the tragedy of the disintegration of modern Russian justice” and said the party would seek an end to Shlosberg’s prosecution by all lawful means.Last week, Yabloko, Russia’s only anti-war party still operating in the country, was barred from running in the September legislative elections. The party appealed the ruling Monday.Rights group Amnesty International said Shlosberg’s “arbitrary prosecution and sentencing are blatant reprisals for exercising his right to freedom of expression to call for peace.”Shlosberg has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and was charged over his participation in an online debate about the war and for sharing articles critical of it.The longtime Kremlin opponent has denounced Moscow’s actions in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and backed pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.Russia has criminalized criticism of its offensive in Ukraine, with laws punishing “discrediting” the military and spreading “false information” about it carrying sentences of up to 15 years.Most of President Vladimir Putin’s opponents are dead, jailed or in exile.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads