Deputy head of Russia’s anti-war Yabloko party sentenced to 11 years and one month in prison

A Russian court has sentenced Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in prison on charges of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian army and spreading “false information” about the military, independent outlet Mediazona reports. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 12 years and one month. Shlosberg pleaded not guilty.

The “false information” case stemmed from a social media repost Shlosberg made of a 2022 cover of the British tabloid Daily Mirror that showed a bloodied woman alongside Vladimir Putin with the caption “Her blood… his hands”. In court, Shlosberg argued that the law criminalising “false information” had not yet come into force when he made the post.

The “discrediting the army” charge arose from a live debate Shlosberg held with historian Yury Pivovarov on YouTube. Shlosberg told the court he was effectively being prosecuted for statements made by his opponent, though he did not specify which of Pivovarov’s remarks had triggered the case. During the debate, Shlosberg had called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

Shlosberg was placed in pretrial detention on the “false information” charge on 5 December 2025, having previously been under house arrest over the “discrediting” charge. Yabloko has noted that the new case was opened on 3 December, just days before the six-month legal limit on his house arrest was due to expire.

In November 2025, Shlosberg was sentenced to 420 hours of compulsory labour for failing to comply with the reporting requirements of Russia’s “foreign agents” law.

Last week, on 10 August, the Russian Supreme Court ruled to bar Yabloko from the country’s upcoming parliamentary race. Yabloko is appealing the decision.