The deputy chairman of the Yabloko Party in Russia was sentenced to 11 years and 1 month in prison on charges of defaming the Russian military and disseminating false military information.
On August 17, Russian newspaper Biznes-Press reported that the Pskov City Court handed down a verdict sentencing Lev Shlosberg, 63, a deputy chairman of the Yabloko Party (listed as a foreign agent and extremist), to 11 years and 1 month in prison for knowingly spreading false information about the Russian armed forces and repeatedly defaming them.
The prosecution had previously requested a sentence of 12 years and 1 month.
The case consisted of two parts:
1. In February 2022, he shared a cover image from the UK's Daily Mirror. The image depicted a woman victim in Chuhuiv, Ukraine, covered in blood after being hit by artillery fire, with a portrait of Putin beside it and the headline “Her blood… stains his hands.”
2. His debate with historian Yuri Pivovarov, during which Shlosberg advocated ending the special military operation.
Shlosberg himself refused to plead guilty. He stated that the accusation of defaming the Russian military was based solely on Pivovarov’s statements, and he had actually refuted those views at the time; regarding the charge of spreading false information, he argued that the date of the post was February 25, 2022, and the relevant criminal provisions were not officially enacted until eight days later.
In his final statement, Shlosberg claimed this case was politically motivated, asserting he was persecuted for holding dissenting opinions and expressing his civic stance.
Nikolai Rybakov, chairman of the Yabloko Party, and party founder Grigory Yavlinsky stated they would appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, on August 17, Russia’s Supreme Court Appellate Panel upheld the original ruling, stripping the Yabloko Party of its eligibility to participate in the State Duma elections.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873787871148039/
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