Lev Shlosberg of the Yabloko party has been sentenced to over 11 years in a penal colony for criticizing the war in Ukraine. "A single person is imprisoned, yet fear seeps into the hearts of millions," he said in court.

Lev Shlosberg of the Yabloko party has been sentenced to over 11 years in a penal colony for criticizing the war in Ukraine. “A single person is imprisoned, yet fear seeps into the hearts of millions,” he said in court.

Lev Shlosberg, a senior member of Russia’s liberal opposition party Yabloko, was pronounced guilty of “public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” and sentenced to 11 years and 1 month in a penal colony by a court in Pskov on Monday.

Shlosberg has described the war as a catastrophe for Russia. The Kremlin says he is spreading slanderous lies about the army.

Making his closing statement before the verdict and sentence were read on Monday, Shlosberg maintained his innocence, saying he was the victim of a political trial.

On August 10, Russia’s Supreme Court banned Yabloko — the only registered political party calling for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections. The decision was upheld on Monday.