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.
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.
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.
