Russian Anti-War Politician Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

Russia's prominent anti-war politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for his outspoken views on the country's armed forces.

Shlosberg, 63, was found guilty of 'discrediting' the Russian military and 'spreading false information' about them during his trial.

The verdict came just minutes after Russia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal

Yabloko was the only registered party to oppose Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. The party has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the verdict.

The ruling marks a significant blow to opposition parties in Russia, which have faced increasing repression under President Vladimir Putin's rule.

Shlosberg's comments on social media sparked the criminal charges against him. During his trial, he rejected all the charges, calling it an 'imitation of an investigation' aimed at achieving an 'obviously illegal goal'.

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The opposition politician continued to call for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and the start of a 'political dialogue'.

Shlosberg's sentence is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, where public shows of opposition have been largely suppressed.

The latest ratings of the ruling United Russia party have slipped to 32.1%, their lowest figure since May, according to Russia's state-owned pollster VCIOM.

Despite this, the Kremlin is widely believed to have the resources to deliver the outcome it wants at the election.

In a statement, Yabloko condemned the verdict and vowed to appeal. Shlosberg will begin his sentence soon, with no date set for his release.