Yabloko Deputy Leader Lev Shlossberg Sentenced to 11 Years in Penal Colony by Pskov Court

Lev Shlossberg's Conviction

According to Radiotrek — Світ: Lev Shlossberg, the 63-year-old deputy chair of Russia's opposition Yabloko party, received an 11-year-and-one-month term in a standard-regime penal colony on August 17, 2026. The verdict was handed down by Pskov City Court after he was found guilty of circulating false information about Russia's armed forces and of repeated discreditation of the military. The charges stemmed from his repost of a February 25, 2022 Echo of Moscow article featuring a Daily Mirror front page that showed Vladimir Putin alongside a wounded Ukrainian woman under the caption 'Her blood... His hands.' The discreditation allegation was also tied to Shlossberg's appearance in a debate on the YouTube channel Zhivoi Gvozd, during which he called for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Shlossberg pleaded not guilty. At the final hearing, his three lead attorneys were unable to attend, but the judge refused to postpone the session and instead assigned him another defender against his wishes. The politician had been held in a pretrial detention facility before the sentencing. Earlier, in November 2025, he was given 420 hours of mandatory labor in a separate case involving his failure to fulfill obligations as a foreign agent.

Case's Impact and Significance

Shlossberg was among the few high-profile Russian opposition politicians who stayed in the country and openly opposed the war against Ukraine. He has described the proceedings against him as a 'discreditation of the law itself and of Russian legislation.'

This sentence reflects the growing pressure on opposition politicians in Russia. - Lev Shlossberg

The ruling underscores how much more dangerous it has become to voice alternative views about the war in Ukraine. As authorities ramp up repressive measures against government critics, Shlossberg's case may emerge as a defining example of the struggle for free speech and human rights in the country. Independent voices in Russia now face severe consequences, and the legal system is increasingly being used as a mechanism for political persecution.