However, some opponents have used their own legal proceedings as platforms to denounce what they consider a growing political repression. Among them are human rights activist Oleg Orlov and the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who during their respective trials delivered speeches against the policies of the Russian government.
Such speeches rarely appear in state media, but can be disseminated through independent platforms and services accessible via virtual private networks, which allow users to bypass some of the restrictions imposed by authorities on the internet.
Alexei Navalny was killed under mysterious circumstances after launching strong criticisms against Putin's government
During Shlosberg's statement, the judge repeatedly interrupted the accused and asked him to stick to the facts related to the charges. The politician insisted, however, on his right to express his position.
''One person is imprisoned, but fear seeps into the hearts of millions,'' Shlosberg stated, according to the released transcript.
The leader had initially been detained in June of last year and charged with discrediting the army after describing the war in Ukraine as a ''bloody chess game'' during a video debate. Subsequently, prosecutors added a charge related to the alleged dissemination of false information following a post shared on his Telegram channel.
The sentence against Shlosberg also comes after another Yábloko leader, Maxim Kruglov, was sentenced in June to seven years in prison for spreading information considered false about the Armed Forces.
The succession of cases highlights the difficult scenario faced by Russian opposition sectors. While the Kremlin maintains its narrative that the war responds to NATO threats and the need to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine, critical voices argue that the conflict has caused enormous human and economic costs.
With Yábloko's exclusion from the elections and the imprisonment of one of its main leaders, the space for anti-war opposition within Russia continues to shrink. Shlosberg's conviction thus becomes another example of the legal consequences faced by those who publicly challenge the official narrative about the war.
In June, Yabloko member Maxim Kruglov was also sentenced to seven years in prison for spreading "false information" about the armed forces of Russia
The leader of the Russian party Yábloko, Lev Shlosberg, was sentenced on Monday to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for criticizing the war in Ukraine, which he described during his trial as a ''catastrophe'' for Russia. The sentence represents a new blow against the Russian political opposition and comes amid increasing pressure from authorities against voices questioning the invasion.
Shlosberg, vice president of Yábloko, was found guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and spreading information deemed false about the war. During his final statement before a court in the city of Pskov, the politician maintained his innocence and argued that he was a victim of a politically motivated process. He also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.
The leader took advantage of his intervention before the court to deliver a harsh critique of the war and its consequences for Russian society. According to a transcript published by an independent media outlet, Shlosberg stated that thousands of people have lost their lives during the conflict and warned that, over time, the full number of victims will be known.
The politician also questioned the demographic impact of the war within Russia. He pointed out that the country's cemeteries, including military ones, are growing faster than maternity wards, daycare centers, and schools, in a direct reference to the human cost he attributes to the conflict.
Russian opposition politician Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison in a "penal colony" for criticizing the war in Ukraine
Independent Russian media have identified the names of at least 239,354 deceased Russian soldiers through public records. Based on documents related to the inheritances of deceased individuals, these media have estimated that the actual number could exceed 350,000 dead. Neither Moscow nor Kiev currently publishes updated and complete figures of their military casualties.
Shlosberg's conviction comes just days after another decision directly affecting Yábloko. On August 10, the Supreme Court of Russia excluded the party from participating in the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. The highest court rejected on Monday an appeal against the ban.
Yábloko is the only registered political party in Russia that has openly called for an end to the war. Its position has provoked strong pressure from the authorities, especially in the lead-up to the elections, where a significant vote against the war could represent a political challenge for the Kremlin.
The opposition party ''Yabloko'' was excluded from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Russia
Anti-war Criticism Laws in Russia
The persecution of Shlosberg is based on legislation passed after the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The rules establish prison sentences for those found guilty of ''discrediting'' the Armed Forces or deliberately spreading false information about military operations.
Since then, public condemnation of the war within Russia has significantly decreased. Restrictions on independent media, censorship, and the blocking of numerous platforms have made it difficult to disseminate positions contrary to the Kremlin.
