UN calls on Russia to respect freedom of expression
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concern over the 11-year prison sentence handed down to Lev Schlossberg, deputy chairman of Russia's Yabloko party. He called on Russian authorities to ensure freedom of expression and the right of citizens to freely participate in the electoral process.
UN Calls on Russia to Respect Freedom of Expression
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern on August 19 over the sentence handed down to Lev Schlossberg, deputy chairman of the Yabloko party.
Schlossberg was one of the politicians who openly opposed Russia's war in Ukraine and was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a court.
Volker Türk called on Russia to "respect freedom of expression, as well as the right of citizens to fully and freely participate in the electoral process."
"Peaceful protest should never be turned into a criminal act," the UN High Commissioner stressed.
Earlier, the UN also condemned the decision of the Russian authorities to exclude the Yabloko party from participating in the State Duma elections. The source noted that Yabloko is the only party that has been advocating for a speedy end to Russia's war in Ukraine.
The Pskov City Court found Lev Shlosberg guilty two days ago of repeatedly “defaming” the Russian Armed Forces and spreading “false information” about the large-scale war in Ukraine.
The case for “defaming” the armed forces was triggered by a recording of the politician’s debate with historian Yuri Pivovarov. During this debate, Shlosberg defended the need to stop hostilities as soon as possible.
The criminal case for spreading “false information” is related to Shlosberg’s re-distribution of material from “Echo of Moscow” on his Telegram channel. It featured the front page of the British newspaper Daily Mirror, which featured a bloodied woman and a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the cover.
Lev Shlosberg is one of the prominent politicians who has remained in Russia and has been openly expressing his position against the war.
According to the Yabloko party, since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, at least 40 searches and inspections of premises have been carried out at party offices and locations associated with its activists. A total of 45 administrative reports have also been issued against 36 party members for "discrediting" the army.