Statement by the Regional Council of Pskov Yabloko, 16.06.2025

Photo: Lev Shlosberg’s support group at the court hearing on choosing his preventive measure in Pskov on 11 July 2025 / Photo by Stepan Baranov, Pskov Yabloko

We firmly condemn the detention of Lev Shlosberg on the contrived charge of “discrediting the army”. We believe that Lev Shlosberg’s actions lack both the event and the elements of a crime. His placement under house arrest is an act of political persecution for his incorruptibility, principled stance and independence, and an attempt to exclude him from legitimate political work.

Lev Shlosberg is a well-known Russian politician, historian, journalist, human rights defender, and elected deputy of two convocations of the Pskov Regional Assembly, who for many years has spoken honestly and openly about the problems of the Pskov region and the entire country. He was not afraid to speak with people sincerely and without hypocrisy.

In the debate with historian Yuri Pivovarov, the publication of which became the pretext for initiating the criminal case, Lev Shlosberg expressed the opinion of millions of Russians: it is necessary to immediately cease fire and preserve human lives, the conflict must be resolved at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield.

This position not only has been continuously defended by the Yabloko party, but has been also regularly discussed at the top political level [of the state]. Thus, we believe that even under current legal conditions, Lev Shlosberg has violated nothing. His case is politically motivated. Calls for peace have not been and are not a crime. The opposite understanding contradicts not only the interests of society, but also the real fundamental interests of the state.

Pskov Yabloko is a team of like-minded individuals that Lev Shlosberg has been building over three decades. It has not only survived, but has restructured without losing its positions after what we are convinced was the unlawful and politically motivated inclusion of Lev Shlosberg in the “foreign agents” registry.

We continue our work for the sake of our voters and supporters, whose interests we represent. We also continue preparations for the upcoming elections in the Pskov region, despite the search conducted at the Yabloko party office and the seizure of all office equipment from it right on the eve of the election campaign. We are convinced that the search on the threshold of the announcement of the election start is not a coincidence.

Pskov Yabloko will seek the termination of the politician’s criminal prosecution, the lifting of the unjust charge against him and all types of freedom restrictions.