Opposition Leader Shlosberg Reinstated Under House Arrest Amid Discreditation Charges

A court in the northwestern Pskov region has ordered the reinstatement of opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to house arrest just three days after his initial release, according to a statement released by the Yabloko party on Friday.

Shlosberg, a prominent member of Yabloko who has chosen to remain in Russia despite his dissent regarding the war, faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years if convicted of repeatedly “discrediting” the military. The 62-year-old has already received two administrative fines for the same offense.

On Tuesday, the Pskov City Court decided to lift Shlosberg’s house arrest, which had been in effect since June, and instead imposed restrictions on his activities. Yabloko reported that these restrictions included a four-month ban on internet use, phone communication, and interaction with anyone outside his home.

However, on Friday, Yabloko announced that the same court reversed its earlier decision and ordered Shlosberg back to house arrest in response to an appeal from prosecutors.

Authorities allege that Shlosberg called for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a debate in January, which was subsequently shared on the Russian social media platform Odnoklassniki.

Yabloko is one of the few legally recognized opposition parties in Russia and has consistently opposed the war in Ukraine, advocating for a ceasefire. However, the party has experienced reduced visibility and increased pressure under wartime censorship regulations.

Additionally, Shlosberg is facing a separate criminal investigation for allegedly violating Russia’s “foreign agent” legislation. In June 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated him as a “foreign agent.”

Some opposition figures in exile have criticized Shlosberg for not adopting a more assertive stance against the war, which he has referred to as a “tragedy” on social media.