Russia: Third trial launched against opposition politician
Shortly before the end of his house arrest, the Russian judiciary has initiated further criminal proceedings against the prominent opposition politician Lev Schlosberg.
05.12.2025, 16:56
SDA
According to the court in the western Russian city of Pskov, he is accused of spreading false news about the army. Today, a decision is to be made on the pre-trial detention of the deputy leader of the liberal opposition party Yabloko from Pskov.
According to his Yabloko regional group, the case concerns a post that Schlosberg shared on his Telegram channel in February 2022. Schlosberg denies the accusation of spreading false reports. This is now the third case against him. He has been under house arrest, with a short break, since June on charges of allegedly discrediting the army. This would have expired next Monday. An extension is not provided for by law, the party wrote. The new proceedings were initiated on Wednesday.
In the sights of the Russian judiciary
The Russian judiciary has been taking action against the opposition politician for months. His arrest in the summer was condemned by the federal government. At the beginning of November, Schlosberg was sentenced to more than 400 hours of community service for allegedly violating conditions for his status as a "foreign agent".
The Kremlin has largely shut down critical media and the opposition. Open criticism is no longer possible in Russia; many opponents of the war and critics of the Kremlin are in exile.
