Putin's Russia

Sentenced to eleven years – after his party was banned

Russian opposition politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to eleven years in prison, according to AFP. His party Yabloko, the last party to oppose the Ukraine war, was banned last week.

He is being convicted of expressing contempt for Russia and its army, according to TT. During the trial, he reiterated his position that the war in Ukraine is a disaster for Russia.

“No political upheaval is worth the deaths of so many people,” he said in the courtroom, according to Russian independent Mediazona, and called for an immediate ceasefire.

He also said that the trial against him is political.

Mass arrests outside Russian Supreme Court – appeal against party ban rejected

Around 70 supporters of the banned opposition party Yabloko have been arrested outside the Russian Supreme Court, Deutsche Welle reports. The court rejected the party's appeal against the ban on running in the State Duma elections in September, according to Reuters.

One of those arrested told independent Russian Sota Vision that most of them had their phones confiscated before they were released, writes DW.

The party was banned a week ago, and on Monday its deputy leader Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to eleven years in prison for expressing contempt for Russia and the army, according to AFP.