Reacting to the sentencing of Lev Shlosberg, deputy chair of the Yabloko party — the only registered Russian political party which has consistently opposed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and campaigned for a ceasefire and diplomacy — to 11 years and one month in prison, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:
“For nothing more than taking part in an anti-war debate and sharing a social media post, Lev Shlosberg faces more than 11 years behind bars. His arbitrary prosecution and sentencing are blatant reprisals for exercising his right to freedom of expression to call for peace.”
“The Yabloko party’s disqualification from running in the September State Duma election is further proof that political pluralism and anti-war expression have no place in Russia today.
“The Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Lev Shlosberg and quash his conviction. They must repeal legislation criminalizing peaceful anti-war expression, end the persecution of Yabloko members and supporters, and respect the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and political participation for all Russians.”
In his final statement in the trial, Lev Shlosberg described how “thousands and thousands” of individuals have been targeted in Russia for their “peaceful, non-violent, and humanistic” beliefs. He concluded: “In reality, in this courtroom I am the Russian Federation, which has been put in a cage and which they want to force into silence.”
Background
On 17 August, the Pskov City Court sentenced Lev Shlosberg, a veteran Russian politician, journalist and deputy chair of Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony. He was prosecuted under Article 280.3(1) of the Russian Criminal Code for “repeated discreditation of the Russian Armed Forces,” and Article 207.3(2)(d) for “dissemination of deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces.” The charges relate to his participation in an online debate about the war against Ukraine and sharing on social media of a publication featuring a Daily Mirror front page showing Vladimir Putin and a blood-covered Ukrainian woman.
Lev Shlosberg’s trial ended amid mounting pressure on Yabloko. On 10 August 2026, Russia’s Supreme Court barred the party from running in the next State Duma election. Yabloko appealed the decision, and at least 30 of its supporters were detained outside the Supreme Court in Moscow on the day of appeal hearing on 17 August.