Russian court jails opposition leader Lev Shlosberg for 11 years as Supreme Court bars anti-war Yabloko party

Penal colony sentence for anti-war speech

A regional court in Pskov sentenced Lev Shlosberg, the 63-year-old deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony on Monday. The court convicted Shlosberg on charges of discrediting the Russian armed forces and spreading false information about military operations. The prosecution had requested a prison term of 12 years and one month. The charges originated from a recorded debate in which Shlosberg called for a ceasefire, as well as a 2022 social media post sharing a British newspaper front page that featured Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shlosberg served as a regional lawmaker in Pskov between 2016 and 2021 and had previously faced designation as a foreign agent. Before the verdict was delivered, Shlosberg maintained his innocence and addressed the court during his final statement.

The lives of countless thousands of people have been cut short during this time. Sooner or later, the precise and complete death toll, with names included, will be made public, and the entire nation will shudder at this list of martyrs.

Supreme Court upholds election exclusion

Minutes after the Pskov court delivered its verdict against Shlosberg, the Appeals Chamber of Russia's Supreme Court rejected Yabloko's appeal against its removal from the upcoming parliamentary election. The Supreme Court had originally stripped Yabloko of its candidate registration on 10 August 2026 following a lawsuit filed by Rodina, a pro-Kremlin nationalist party. Rodina claimed Yabloko violated election laws, engaged in copyright infringement, received foreign funding, and supported what Russian courts classify as the extremist international LGBT movement. Yabloko leadership rejected every allegation, describing the claims as fabricated pretexts to eliminate political competition. Party chairman Nikolay Rybakov argued that such unverified accusations create a precedent allowing the disqualification of any political organization.

Police detentions outside Moscow courthouse

Russian police deployed outside the Supreme Court building in Moscow during Monday's appeal hearing, cordoning off the street and clearing demonstrators. Officers detained dozens of individuals who gathered near the courthouse to express support for the party, including young activists. Kirill Goncharov, the head of Yabloko's Moscow branch, estimated that police transported more than 60 supporters to local precincts. Several teenage detainees were released shortly after being taken into custody. Law enforcement personnel also pushed journalists and camera crews away from the building to restrict coverage of the hearing.

Many detainees today. We also see that the police officers are very nervous today.

Ballot exclusion ahead of September vote

The court rulings remove the only registered political party actively opposing the war in Ukraine from Russia's State Duma elections, scheduled for 18–20 September 2026. All 10 other registered parties competing in the election support the Russian military campaign. The exclusion leaves Russian voters who oppose the armed conflict without an anti-war option on the ballot. According to survey data published by state-owned pollster VCIOM, public support for the ruling United Russia party dropped to 32.1% earlier this month, its lowest recorded level since May 2026. Following the court decisions, Amnesty International condemned the sentence against Shlosberg as retaliation for exercising free expression. Yabloko announced that it will pursue a supervisory review of the Supreme Court decision, while Shlosberg's legal team prepares an appeal against his sentence.

His arbitrary prosecution and sentencing are blatant reprisals for exercising his right to freedom of expression to call for peace.