Russia has opened a criminal case against opposition politician Lev Shlosberg for allegedly failing to comply with restrictions on “foreign agents.”
Shlosberg, who chairs the Pskov regional branch of the liberal Yabloko party, was designated as a “foreign agent” last year for opposing the war in Ukraine as well as “spreading false information about the decisions and policies” of Russia’s government.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it had charged him with “evading the duties of a foreign agent” — a discriminatory measure requiring foreign agents to disclose their status in any material they publish online.
The charges came after authorities searched Shlosberg’s apartment, as well as the home of his 95-year-old father, on Wednesday morning. The politician was released following police questioning.
Shlosberg, one of the few anti-war voices remaining in Russia, faces up to two years in prison if convicted.
“The [police] order mentioned the lack of labeling, but Lev is attentive to the authorities’ requirements and always labels all his publications. He complies with the law,” his wife Zhanna told reporters.
“In my personal opinion, this is just another intimidation tactic,” she said of the police searches.
Hundreds of journalists, activists and civil society figures have been branded “foreign agents” in recent years amid the Kremlin’s widening crackdown on independent media and the opposition.
Individuals branded as “foreign agents” are required to submit financial reports to the Justice Ministry and label all their communications and public statements with a lengthy disclaimer.
Russia’s Justice Ministry typically updates its list of foreign agents every Friday.
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