State Prosecutors Seek 12-Year Prison Sentence for Lev Shlosberg

Aug. 14, 2026 Lev Shlosberg in court. yabloko.ru State prosecutors in the northwestern city of Pskov have asked a judge to sentence veteran opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 12 years and one month in prison for “discrediting” and spreading “fake news” about the Russian military, the liberal Yabloko party said Friday. The requested sentence combines maximum penalties under wartime censorship laws with a previous November 2025 conviction in which Shlosberg was sentenced to 420 hours of community service for violating Russia's “foreign agent” law, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported. Shlosberg, a senior member of Yabloko, pleaded not guilty, instead accusing prosecutors of “discrediting” Russian law. The military “fakes” charge stems from a Feb. 25, 2022, Telegram post in which Shlosberg reshared content from the now-defunct Ekho Moskvy radio station. The post featured a British tabloid cover depicting President Vladimir Putin alongside a bloodied woman. Shlosberg argued in court that he made the post before Russia passed its wartime censorship laws. The separate “discrediting” charge, meanwhile, is linked to a January 2025 public debate in which Shlosberg was accused of calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Shlosberg denied publishing a video of the debate on social media and noted that the specific statements cited by prosecutors were actually made by his debate opponent. The legal proceedings have been marked by procedural irregularities, according to independent news outlets. Novaya Gazeta reported that the Pskov City Court judge refused to question Shlosberg directly, reading transcripts from earlier sessions instead. In addition, after Shlosberg’s three defense attorneys missed hearings due to illness and scheduling conflicts, the judge appointed a state lawyer and rejected motions to decline the representation. The sentencing request comes days after Russia’s Supreme Court barred Yabloko’s federal candidate list from upcoming State Duma elections. An appeal of that ruling is scheduled for Monday. A date for Shlosberg’s verdict has not yet been announced. Read more about: Yabloko , Court cases , Pskov 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 Shlosberg Charged With Spreading ‘Fakes’ About Russian Army The charge, the third brought against Lev Shlosberg this year, was announced three days before he was due to be released from house arrest. 1 Min read Opposition Politician Shlosberg Returned to House Arrest Pending ‘Discreditation’ Trial The Pskov City Court had ruled earlier this week to impose a ban on certain activities instead of continuing Lev Shlosberg’s house arrest. 2 Min read Shlosberg Placed Under House Arrest Pending Trial Authorities accuse the Pskov region opposition figure of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian military under wartime censorship laws. 1 Min read Lev Shlosberg Arrested and Charged With Repeatedly ‘Discrediting’ Russian Army The senior Yabloko party member has remained in Russia despite his open opposition to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 2 Min read