Russian court sentences Yabloko deputy Lev Shlosberg to 11 years in prison
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A Russian court sentenced Yabloko deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in a general-regime penal colony on charges of discrediting the army and spreading false information about it. The 63-year-old politician was convicted over his participation in a debate about the war in Ukraine and a repost of a Daily Mirror cover. The sentence was handed down despite the court completing proceedings in the absence of Shlosberg's lawyers.
Key Facts
- Lev Shlosberg, 63, deputy chairman of the Yabloko party, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in a general-regime penal colony.
- Prosecutors had requested 12 years and one month for Shlosberg.
- The conviction stemmed from Shlosberg's participation in a debate on the war in Ukraine with historian Yuri Pivovarov and a repost of a Daily Mirror cover photo.
- The court completed the judicial investigation in the absence of Shlosberg's lawyers, and the politician was not questioned in court.
The Sentence
Lev Shlosberg, 63, deputy chairman of the Yabloko party, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in a general-regime penal colony. Prosecutors had requested 12 years and one month. The court found Shlosberg guilty of repeated discrediting of the Russian army and spreading false information about it. One episode involved his participation in a debate about the war in Ukraine with historian Yuri Pivovarov; another was a repost of a publication by Ekho Moskvy featuring a Daily Mirror cover photo.
Trial Irregularities
The court completed the judicial investigation in the absence of Shlosberg's lawyers. A court-appointed defense attorney was not prepared for the arguments, and Shlosberg refused the attorney. Shlosberg was not questioned in court; the judge treated his statement that he was ready to testify after the presentation of defense evidence as a refusal to testify. The judge also intervened during Shlosberg's final statement.
Political Pressure
Shlosberg has faced administrative and criminal cases, was declared a foreign agent, and was restricted from political activity. Searches were conducted at his home, and pressure on him intensified over the years. Despite the escalating pressure, Shlosberg did not leave Russia.
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Russian court sentences Yabloko deputy Lev Shlosberg to 11 years in prison
