Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Russia Sentences Yabloko Deputy Lev Shlosberg to 11 Years

8/21/2026

22 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Russia sentenced Lev Shlosberg, Yabloko deputy chairman, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony.
Russia’s Supreme Court upheld the ban on Yabloko for the 18-20 September Duma election on 17 August 2026.
Police detained at least 85 people outside the Supreme Court hearing and 35 supporters inside on 17 August.
Amnesty International’s Marie Struthers called Shlosberg’s prosecution a blatant reprisal for exercising freedom of expression.

History

Historical Context

The Russian foreign-agent law, first passed in 2012 and broadened by a 4 June 2014 amendment, has forced dozens of NGOs and media outlets—73 groups in the Ecodefence case and over 100 by 2016—to register and face heavy fines. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2023 that the law bears “totalitarian” hallmarks, a backdrop to Lev Shlosberg’s 11-year sentence and Amnesty’s condemnation.

1 of 2

Story summary

Russia sentenced Lev Shlosberg, Yabloko deputy chairman, to 11 years and one month in a penal colony.
Russia’s Supreme Court upheld the ban on Yabloko for the 18-20 September Duma election on 17 August 2026.
Police detained at least 85 people outside the Supreme Court hearing and 35 supporters inside on 17 August.
Amnesty International’s Marie Struthers called Shlosberg’s prosecution a blatant reprisal for exercising freedom of expression.

1 / 2