Lev Shlosberg’s letter from remand prison, 18 December 2025

Photo: Lev Shlosberg addresses the court via video link from remand prison

Dear friends, colleagues in the democratic Yabloko party, supporters near and far, people of peace and freedom whom I know and those whom I do not know,

On 9 December, the woman who delivers correspondence to prisoners asked me: “Are you in some sort of party?” “Yes, in Yabloko,” I replied. “You’re getting so many letters!” And I received the first pile of warm, sincere and heartfelt messages.

Friends, times of trial don’t come of their own accord; they are never accidental. We are all living through times of unfreedom now, because in recent years politicians and society have done too little to protect the shoots of freedom.

Unfreedom is always the result of laziness, selfishness, self-interest, cowardice, hypocrisy, indifference, disrespect for people, neglect of human rights and freedoms, and human dignity. Unfreedom arrives on the weeded and scorched field of civil society, onto which people are afraid to venture for fear of falling victim to repression. At such moments in history it often seems that freedom has gone underground. Freedom withdraws into people — into the deepest and most sacred places of the human soul. Freedom is indestructible, immaterial, and therefore immortal.

Today it is important to preserve freedom within ourselves. The atoms of freedom sustain everyone in whom they live. Safeguard these atoms, share them with other people — from hand to hand. Freedom attracts freedom and multiplies freedom. The freedom of society comes from within people when those who are free become the majority. Freedom is a natural need and vital necessity for every person, including those people who are now destroying freedom and trying to destroy us. Their awareness and understanding of what is happening will come. Everyone has the chance to become a free person. We fight for the freedom and dignity of these people too.

Yes, anything can happen to any of us. This must be understood and accepted as a condition of life today, a condition of the work of civic politicians today, and a condition of working for a future without violence and fear.

The people who today emanate violence and fear are conscious of their omnipotence and absolute power. They have many temptations; many of them have started hunting down people of peace and freedom.

The life circumstances of thousands upon thousands of people, including my own, demonstrate this very clearly. It is possible, and, as we see, easy to deprive us of our liberty, but it is impossible to change us from within, to strip us of human dignity, inner strength, convictions and aspirations. Remain free people in these times of unfreedom, friends.

Politics is the most important intellectual and humanitarian work for society and with society. Civic politics in Russia today is the politics of preserving human dignity, the politics of fighting for every human life, the politics of applying our intellect and soul to tirelessly remind people that peace and freedom are the conditions for life — in our country and in all other countries where mortal danger hangs over people’s lives. Each new day of our lives is a new opportunity to speak out about the saving necessity of peace and freedom. To save people’s lives.

My utmost respect goes to all those participating in the work of the Yabloko party team, which is now in its fourth decade of working in Russia to defend human rights and freedoms, build a state governed by law and a just society. This work is the guarantee of freedom.

In my cell measuring 2 by 4 metres, on an iron table, there is a plastic bottle made for Yabloko’s 30th anniversary. On it are lines from one of the most famous Pskov residents in history, [famous Russian poet] Alexander Pushkin:

“Then heavy chains fall by the board,Then dungeons crack — and freedoms voicesWill greet you at the gate, rejoicing,And brothers hand to you a sword.”

The Pskov prison, where I am held, was built in 1804, when Pushkin was five years old. Today I warm it with my thoughts and breath: I embrace you through the stone walls.

Yours,

Lev Shlosberg