Russian anti-war politician Shlosberg jailed 11 years
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- Lev Shlosberg, 63, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony by a Pskov court on Monday for "public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces" and "spreading false information," based on his social media posts; the prosecution had demanded 12 years and one month.
- Yabloko party, the only registered party opposing Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, was banned from the 18-20 September parliamentary elections by Russia's Supreme Court in a ruling delivered minutes after Shlosberg's verdict — over accusations it supports the "international LGBT movement" (designated extremist) and a copyright infringement claim from pro-Kremlin party Rodina, both of which Yabloko rejects.
- Shlosberg called the trial "an imitation of an investigation" designed to "punish a person for his political, public and civil position" and used his closing statement to call for a ceasefire and "political dialogue," before the presiding judge repeatedly interrupted him.
- All 10 other parties in the September election support the war in Ukraine, and United Russia's ratings slipped to 32.1% — the lowest since May per state pollster VCIOM — while independent election watchdogs have been stripped of monitoring capacity.
Why it matters: Russia's last registered anti-war party and its deputy head have both been knocked out of politics weeks before a parliamentary election where all 10 remaining parties support the war. The Kremlin enters September's vote with Yabloko banned and independent watchdogs stripped of monitoring capacity, despite United Russia's approval slipping to 32.1% per state pollster VCIOM.
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