Russia Supreme Court upholds Yabloko election ban as deputy chair Lev Shlosberg receives 11-year sentence

The Russian Supreme Court has confirmed the removal of the Yabloko party from the September electoral ballot after a lower court in Pskov sentenced party deputy chair Lev Shlosberg to more than eleven years in a penal colony for publicly calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Pskov court’s ruling was based on charges that Shlosberg’s statements constituted extremist propaganda and an attempt to undermine the state’s military efforts. Yabloko, a centrist opposition party, had previously announced its intention to contest the upcoming election, but the Supreme Court’s decision effectively barred it from participating. The case follows a broader pattern of legal actions against opposition figures who criticize Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.

The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in restricting opposition participation in elections. It also highlights the continued legal risks faced by Russian politicians who publicly oppose the government’s war policy.