Opposition Leader Lev Shlosberg Under House Arrest Amid Censorship Charges

A court in Pskov, a city in northwestern Russia, has placed opposition figure Lev Shlosberg under house arrest while he awaits trial on accusations of «discrediting» the Russian military, as reported by independent media sources on Wednesday.

Shlosberg, a prominent member of the liberal party Yabloko, was detained and charged on Tuesday in connection with Russia’s wartime censorship laws.

According to independent outlets RusNews and Sotavision, the Pskov City Court decided on Wednesday that Shlosberg will remain under house arrest until August 8. The hearing was conducted privately at the request of the plaintiffs.

Yabloko stated that party leader Nikolai Rybakov was in attendance to show support for Shlosberg.

Authorities allege that Shlosberg, who has chosen to stay in Russia despite his opposition to the war, called for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a debate with historian Yury Pivovarov in January. A video of this debate has been shared on the Russian social media platform Odnoklassniki.

Earlier in January, law enforcement officials charged Shlosberg for not adhering to Russia’s «foreign agent» legislation. If found guilty of these charges, he could face a prison sentence of up to two years.

Shlosberg, who previously led Yabloko’s branch in the Pskov region, has consistently denounced Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, referring to it as a «tragedy» on social media. Some exiled opposition leaders have criticized him for not adopting a more aggressive stance against the conflict.

In June 2023, Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Shlosberg as a «foreign agent.» Under this designation, individuals are required to include a detailed disclaimer on all public statements, including posts on social media.