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Russian court jails a Kremlin critic for 11 years for opposing the war in Ukraine
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Russian opposition politician Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 11 years and one month in prison for criticizing the war in Ukraine, reflecting the Kremlin’s intensified crackdown on dissent ahead of September’s parliamentary elections.
- Shlosberg, deputy chairman of the anti-war Yabloko party, was convicted on charges of “discrediting” and spreading “false information” about the military, stemming from his calls to end the war and critical social media posts.
- Russia’s Supreme Court upheld a decision barring Yabloko from participating in the upcoming State Duma election, citing accusations from a pro-Kremlin party that Yabloko’s anti-war stance violated laws on territorial integrity.
- Amnesty International condemned Shlosberg’s conviction as a violation of freedom of expression, urging Russian authorities to release him and end persecution of Yabloko members.
- Yabloko vowed to appeal the court rulings and continue advocating for peace, highlighting the party’s role as the only registered opposition openly opposing the war despite increasing government repression.
