Russia Sentences Yabloko Deputy to 11 Years Penal Colony

Russia has sentenced Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of the opposition Yabloko party, to 11 years and 1 month in a penal colony in a verdict that human rights groups describe as a politically motivated assault on the last registered anti-war party in the country. The Pskov City Court delivered the sentence on 17 August 2026 after finding the 63-year-old politician guilty of discrediting the Russian armed forces and spreading false information about the military, according to NOS. The case underscores how Russia's opposition has been silenced ahead of September's parliamentary elections.

Who is Lev Shlosberg?

Lev Shlosberg has been a member of Yabloko since 1994 and served as a regional lawmaker in Pskov. He has long campaigned against the war in Ukraine, making him a target of Russia's wartime censorship laws. On 3 December 2025 he was indicted under the fake news statute for a Telegram post from February 2022 showing a bloodied Ukrainian woman alongside President Putin with the caption 'Her blood... His hands'. The discrediting charge stems from a debate in which Shlosberg called for an immediate ceasefire. His case is part of a broader pattern in which Russia's anti-war opposition faces criminal prosecution for speaking out.

Why Was Shlosberg Sentenced?

Prosecutors had asked for 12 years and 1 month. The court convicted Shlosberg under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code: part 1 of Article 280.3, which criminalises discrediting the armed forces, and part 2 of Article 207.3, which targets the spread of false information about the military. Shlosberg rejected all charges and called the trial a punishment for his political, public and civil position. In his final statement he warned: 'Earlier or later the exact and total death toll will become known, and also the names. Then the whole country will tremble at the sight of the list of martyrs.' Yabloko said it would appeal the verdict.

Russia's Crackdown on Anti-War Voices

The sentencing is the latest in a series of harsh punishments for Kremlin critics since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The table below compares some of the most prominent cases.

Human rights activist Oleg Orlov was jailed in 2024 for criticising the war. Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, died in an Arctic penal colony the same year; allies and five European countries, including the Netherlands, say he was poisoned on Putin's orders. Mediazona and the BBC, which track Russian military deaths using open sources, have confirmed at least 239,354 killed by mid-August 2026, with estimates based on inheritance records reaching 350,000. As the war in Ukraine grinds on, open dissent has become nearly impossible.

Impact on Russia's Political Landscape

The verdict came just days after Russia's Supreme Court banned Yabloko from September's parliamentary elections, removing the only registered party that opposed the war. Critics say the Kremlin fears that even a low-key anti-war vote could expose public discontent. The Yabloko party ban and Shlosberg's imprisonment together signal that the authorities will not tolerate any organised opposition ahead of the 2026 State Duma vote. All ten other parties registered for the election support the war or do not openly criticise it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Lev Shlosberg's prison sentence?

He was sentenced to 11 years and 1 month in a penal colony.

What was Lev Shlosberg charged with?

He was convicted of discrediting the Russian armed forces and spreading false information about the military.

Which party does Lev Shlosberg belong to?

He is deputy chairman of Yabloko, Russia's last registered anti-war opposition party.

Will Yabloko appeal the verdict?

Yes, the party has announced it will appeal Shlosberg's sentence.