In a significant judicial decision, Russian politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to over 11 years in a penal colony. The court in Pskov convicted him on charges of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian military and distributing “false information” about it, as reported by Amnesty International. The ruling is predicated on two articles of the Russian Criminal Code, Articles 280.3 and 207.3, which were introduced by Federal Law No. 32-FZ on March 4, 2022. These laws criminalize both the disparagement of the armed forces and the spread of knowingly false information about the military, with penalties reaching up to 15 years in a penal colony.
Shlosberg’s case highlights several controversial legal maneuvers. His defense maintained that the charges under Article 207.3 were based on a repost from February 25, 2022, a time before the enactment of the law. Moreover, allegations against Shlosberg arose from a debate where prosecutors reportedly misattributed statements to him, according to Meduza. The judicial process proceeded without the presence of defense counsel, and Shlosberg was not interrogated in court, raising severe concerns about procedural integrity, as noted by human rights observers.
As deputy chairman of Yabloko, the only registered party in Russia openly opposing the war in Ukraine, Shlosberg’s sentencing is part of a broader crackdown on political dissent. Earlier, the Russian Supreme Court rejected Yabloko’s appeal to contest its removal from the State Duma ballot, a decision based on alleged copyright and campaign finance violations. This legal environment reflects intensified pressure on opposition movements and individuals critical of the state, a development that resonates throughout Russia’s current political landscape.
Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, Marie Struthers, condemned the sentencing as a clear retaliation against Shlosberg’s exercise of free speech. She called for his immediate release, underscoring the international outcry over the suppression of dissenting voices in Russia. The evolving legal situation requires close attention from global observers, given the potential implications for freedom of expression within Russia’s increasingly constricted civic space.