Russia's prominent anti-war politician jailed for 11 years - BBC News

Lev Schlosberg is found guilty of "discrediting" Russia's army - a verdict he condemns as punishment for his political position.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Lev Shlosberg said he was punished for his political position

Russia's prominent anti-war politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for "discrediting" the country's armed forces and "spreading false information" about them.

Shlosberg, 63, condemned the verdict by a court in the city of Pskov, saying its only task was to "punish a person for his political, public and civil position".

His liberal political party Yabloko, which he is deputy head of, said it would appeal.

The ruling came just minutes before Russia's Supreme Court rejected Yabloko's appeal against a ban on it taking part in September's parliamentary elections.