Opposition Politician Lev Shlosberg Sentenced for ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Violation
A court in Pskov, a city in northwestern Russia, sentenced opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 420 hours of community service for breaching “foreign agent” regulations, according to the Yabloko party on Wednesday.
Details of the Case
The court ruled that Shlosberg violated the law by keeping five videos on his personal social media page without the mandatory “foreign agent” label. Prosecutors initially demanded 440 hours of community service.
“Shlosberg denied any wrongdoing, and his defense pledged to appeal the ruling.”
After the verdict, a video shared by the RusNews Telegram channel captured Shlosberg shaking hands with his lawyers and posing for photos.
Legal and Political Context
- This is Russia’s first criminal prosecution under the “foreign agent” law initiated by the police rather than the usual regulatory body.
- The legal proceedings included 20 hearings and nearly 1,400 pages of documents.
- Shlosberg is a senior member of Yabloko’s Pskov branch and one of the few opposition figures who remain in Russia despite opposing the war in Ukraine.
- The Justice Ministry labeled him a “foreign agent” in June 2023.
About Yabloko Party
Yabloko is among Russia’s few legal opposition parties, consistently opposing the war in Ukraine and calling for a ceasefire. However, it has faced growing censorship and declining visibility due to wartime laws.
Current Status of Shlosberg
Shlosberg is currently under house arrest as part of a separate criminal case accusing him of “discrediting” the Russian military following his participation in a public debate.
“Yabloko said it was Russia’s first criminal ‘foreign agent’ prosecution brought by the police rather than the usual regulatory body.”
Author’s summary: Opposition politician Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 420 hours of community service for violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law, highlighting the increasing legal pressures on dissenting voices amid wartime censorship.