Russian Opposition Figure Gets 11-Year Term for Anti-War Stance

A prominent Russian opposition politician has been hande…

A prominent Russian opposition politician has been handed a lengthy prison sentence in a case closely tied to his public opposition to the Kremlin's military campaign in Ukraine.

Lev Shlosberg, a senior figure within the liberal Yabloko party, received an 11-year and one-month jail term on Monday. The verdict was delivered by a military court, which found him guilty of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.

The charges stem from statements Shlosberg made regarding events in Bucha, a Ukrainian town where evidence of civilian killings emerged after Russian troops withdrew in 2022. His remarks contradicted the official narrative presented by Russian authorities.

Shlosberg, who has long been a vocal critic

Shlosberg, who has long been a vocal critic of the government, was arrested in 2023. His trial was conducted behind closed doors, a move his legal team and supporters decried as a further sign of the shrinking space for dissent in the country.

Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the sentence, viewing it as part of a broader crackdown on anti-war voices. Since the start of the conflict, thousands of Russians have faced legal consequences for protesting or speaking out against the invasion.

The Yabloko party, which has consistently opposed the war, expressed outrage over the ruling, calling it politically motivated. Shlosberg's defense lawyers have indicated they will appeal the decision.