Russian Court Sentences Jewish Opposition Politician to 12 Years for Anti-War Post

Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of the Russian opposition party Yabloko, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for spreading "false news" about the Russian military and damaging its reputation. The legal case against Shlosberg, a Jewish politician and longtime critic of the Russian government, began after he shared a Telegram post in February 2022, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The post featured the British Daily Mirror's front page showing a wounded Ukrainian woman alongside Vladimir Putin's photo under the headline "Her blood... his hands." The charges also referenced a YouTube discussion in which Shlosberg called for an end to the fighting.

Shlosberg's lawyers noted that the law under which he was charged was applied retroactively after the post was published. During the trial in Pskov, Shlosberg's regular defense attorneys were absent due to personal and professional reasons, and a court-appointed lawyer was assigned. Judge Victoria Melyamova denied requests for full consultation time and access to previous hearing transcripts, allowing only 18 minutes for defense preparation before the session. Shlosberg has been detained since his arrest in December 2025 and labeled a "terrorist and extremist."

Yabloko, the only openly anti-war party in Russia, was recently banned by the Supreme Court from participating in upcoming elections. This case highlights the increasing crackdown on dissent and opposition figures in Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.