Russian court sentences Kremlin critic Shlosberg to 11 years over anti-war stance

A courtroom rebuke of three decades of Russian policy

He also addressed the war in Ukraine directly, telling the court that the conflict has "changed the lives of every Russian citizen without exception." Looking ahead, Shlosberg predicted that once the war's true death toll becomes known, "the entire country will shudder," a warning that underscored the human cost he believes Russia has yet to confront publicly.

The case marks one of the highest-profile prosecutions of a sitting Russian opposition figure for anti-war activity since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Shlosberg, a regional politician long associated with Yabloko and known for investigative work in the Pskov region, has faced repeated legal pressure in recent years, a pattern critics say reflects the Kremlin's tightening grip on domestic dissent.

Yabloko's statement framed the sentencing as punishment for patriotism rather than any criminal act, arguing that Shlosberg's call for a ceasefire and his criticism of the war were the actual triggers for prosecution. The party's decision to appeal suggests it does not expect a swift reversal from Russian courts but is using the legal process to keep the case in public view.

Part of a broader crackdown on anti-war voices

International human rights groups have repeatedly warned that Russia has criminalized open opposition to the war, with laws against "discrediting" the armed forces and spreading "false information" used to target journalists, activists, and opposition politicians. The 11-year sentence against Shlosberg fits within that broader pattern, observers said, and is likely to be cited in future monitoring reports.

Shlosberg's defense team had argued that his public statements, including posts on social media and appearances at opposition events, were protected political speech under both Russian and international law. The court rejected those arguments in reaching its verdict, according to the Yabloko statement, which did not detail the specific criminal charges or articles of the penal code cited.

The sentencing comes against the backdrop of continued fighting in Ukraine and a domestic political environment in which open criticism of the war has become extremely risky. Several Russian opposition figures have either fled the country, been placed under house arrest, or been handed lengthy prison terms in recent years, leaving the anti-war movement inside Russia largely fragmented.

Appeal planned as Yabloko vows to keep the case in the spotlight

Yabloko said it would pursue both domestic appeal procedures and international advocacy, framing Shlosberg's case as a test of whether any space remains for political dissent inside Russia. The party urged supporters to publicize the verdict and to press for Shlosberg's release through human rights mechanisms.

Western governments and European institutions are likely to add the case to the list of Russian political prisoners cited in sanctions debates and human rights resolutions. While such designations have done little to alter the Kremlin's behavior, Russian opposition figures say international visibility is one of the few remaining tools available to those prosecuted on politically charged charges.