Russia’s Anti-War Politician Lev Shlosberg Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

August 18, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Russian politician and Yabloko party deputy chair Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony over charges related to his opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to Amnesty International.

The Pskov City Court sentenced Shlosberg on August 17 under provisions of Russia’s Criminal Code covering the repeated “discreditation” of the Russian armed forces and the dissemination of what authorities deemed false information about the military.

The charges relate to Shlosberg’s participation in an online debate about the war and his sharing on social media of a publication featuring a Daily Mirror front page showing President Vladimir Putin alongside a blood-covered Ukrainian woman, Amnesty said.

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia director, condemned the sentence, saying Shlosberg was being punished for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

“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,” Struthers said.

Amnesty called for Shlosberg’s immediate and unconditional release and for his conviction to be overturned. The organisation also urged Russian authorities to repeal legislation criminalising peaceful anti-war expression and end what it described as the persecution of Yabloko members and supporters.

The sentence comes amid mounting pressure on Yabloko, which has consistently opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called for a ceasefire and diplomatic settlement, according to Amnesty.

Russia’s Supreme Court barred Yabloko from contesting the next State Duma election on August 10. The party has appealed the decision.

At least 30 Yabloko supporters were detained outside the Supreme Court in Moscow on August 17 during the appeal hearing, Amnesty said.

In his final statement to the court, Shlosberg said thousands of people had been targeted in Russia for holding what he described as peaceful and humanitarian beliefs. He said the proceedings had placed the Russian Federation “in a cage” and sought to silence it.

Source: FSX Business News