Opposition Leader Lev Shlosberg Facing Serious Charges for Criticizing Russian Military

On Tuesday, law enforcement officials arrested Lev Shlosberg, a prominent member of the opposition party Yabloko, and charged him with allegedly «discrediting» the Russian armed forces.

Police conducted searches and confiscated personal electronic devices from Shlosberg’s home, as well as from the residence of his wife, his 96-year-old father, and the local Yabloko office located in the northwestern city of Pskov, according to information provided by the party.

Authorities accuse Shlosberg, who has remained in Russia despite opposing the war, of advocating for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a debate with historian Yury Pivovarov in January. A video of the discussion was shared on the Russian social media platform Odnoklassniki.

The Yabloko branch in Pskov reported that Shlosberg was taken to a temporary detention facility following his arrest. A court is anticipated to decide on the extension of his detention on Wednesday.

At 61, Shlosberg could face a sentence of up to five years in prison if convicted of repeatedly «discrediting» the military. He has previously received two administrative fines for similar allegations.

In January, law enforcement charged Shlosberg for not adhering to Russia’s “foreign agent” law, which could result in an additional two-year prison term if he is found guilty of those charges.

In June 2023, Russia’s Justice Ministry designated the opposition figure as a “foreign agent.” The law requires individuals labeled as such to include extensive disclaimers with all their public statements, including those made on social media.

Once the head of Yabloko’s Pskov region branch, Shlosberg consistently denounces Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a «tragedy» in his social media posts. Some exiled opposition leaders have criticized him for not adopting a more aggressive stance against the war.

Shlosberg held a position as a lawmaker in the Pskov region legislative assembly from 2011 to 2021.