INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian law enforcement authorities on Friday announced criminal charges against Lev Shlosberg, one of the few remaining politicians in the
country openly opposed to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Shlosberg, 61, used to head the Pskov regional branch of the systemic
videos.While investigators opened a criminal case against him in October for allegedly violating Russia's restrictive "foreign agent" law,
formal charges were filed only on Friday.Under the "foreign agent" law, individuals labeled as such must include a lengthy disclaimer on all
public statements, including social media posts
Authorities accuse Shlosberg of failing to comply with this requirement, an allegation he denies.Shlosberg said Friday that he has been
barred from leaving his home region of Pskov in western Russia while the criminal case proceeds.A former lawmaker in Pskov's regional
parliament, Shlosberg faces up to two years in prison if convicted of the new charges
He has previously been fined multiple times for "discrediting" the Russian military and has expressed support for political prisoners inside
Russia.Despite his opposition to the Kremlin and the war, Shlosberg has faced criticism from other Russian opposition figures for his
cautious approach to the conflict
He has condemned Ukrainian counteroffensives and criticized opposition members who have endorsed or justified Kyiv's attacks on Russian
border regions including Kursk.
