Russia's prominent anti-war politician jailed for 11 years
Russian politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony for criticizing the war in Ukraine. His party, Yabloko, was also barred from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing suppression of political dissent and anti-war sentiment within Russia under the current administration.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Lev Shlosberg said he was punished for his political position
Russia's prominent anti-war politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for "discrediting" the country's armed forces and "spreading false information" about them.
Shlosberg, 63, condemned the verdict by a court in the city of Pskov, saying its only task was to "punish a person for his political, public and civil position".
His liberal political party Yabloko, which he is deputy head of, said it would appeal.
The ruling came just minutes before Russia's Supreme Court rejected Yabloko's appeal against a ban on it taking part in September's parliamentary elections.
Yabloko was the only registered party to oppose Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022.
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