Russian Liberal Politician Jailed for 4 Years Over Donation to Navalny Group

By Reuters Oct. 8, 2026 Elena Perepelitsa. @yabloko_press / Telegram Elena Perepelitsa, a member of Russia's liberal Yabloko party which opposes the war in Ukraine, has been sentenced to four years in a penal colony for donating money to an "extremist" organization, state news agency TASS reported on Thursday. She was the third Yabloko member to be jailed in less than four months as authorities step up pressure on the opposition party, which was largely barred from contesting September's parliamentary election. Perepelitsa was found guilty of donating money to the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, which is designated in Russia as a "foreign agent" and outlawed as an extremist organization. In a post on Telegram, Yabloko confirmed the verdict and shared Perepelitsa's statement to the court in which she denied knowingly financing extremist activity. Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, Russia's use of extremist designations and strict wartime censorship laws have prompted many opposition figures and activists to flee the country, while those who remain risk prosecution for expressing anti-war views and other dissent. Yabloko's deputy leader Maxim Kruglov was convicted in June of spreading lies about the Russian army and jailed for seven years. In August, the party's deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to just over 11 years in a penal colony for discrediting Russia's Armed Forces and spreading false information about them, after condemning the war in Ukraine. Read more about: Yabloko , Opposition Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more opinion Kateryna Shenheliia What Did Russia’s Opposition Do When Yabloko Was Thrown Off the Ballot? Keep Fighting Itself. The exclusion of the anti-war Yabloko party from State Duma elections has become yet another catalyst for infighting among Russia's opposition. 7 Min read Russia Charges Opposition Politician Shlosberg With Violating ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Lev Shlosberg is one of the few remaining politicians in the country openly opposed to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read St. Petersburg Opposition Lawmaker Vishnevsky Resigns Over ‘Foreign Agent’ Ban Authorities designated Boris Vishnevsky, a member of the liberal Yabloko party, as a “foreign agent” in March, citing his opposition to the war. 1 Min read Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Opposition Politician Shlosberg Shlosberg, one of the few anti-war voices remaining in Russia, faces up to two years in prison if convicted. 1 Min read