Russia has opened a criminal case against opposition politician Lev Shlosberg, one of the few Kremlin critics publicly opposed to the Ukraine campaign still at large in the country.
Shlosberg, deputy leader of the Yabloko party, said officers on October 2 searched his apartment and the apartment of his father in the northwestern city of Pskov. His father was interrogated but released.
Russia's Investigative Committee has accused Shlosberg of failing to disclose his status as a "foreign agent" in public statements -- a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.
Moscow has waged a relentless crackdown on independent politicians and dissent since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has used the foreign agents law to silence those who oppose the government and the war.
Anybody designated a foreign agent must attach a lengthy disclaimer to all public statements, including social media posts. They are also required to submit financial reports to Russian authorities.
Shlosberg, 61, is accused of "repeatedly publicly distributed materials without indicating they were created or spread by a foreign agent." He has denied breaking the law.
"I do not consider myself guilty of committing the crime of which I have been accused," he said on Telegram.
In social media posts and broadcasts on YouTube, Shlosberg has repeatedly said the conflict is a "tragedy," lamented the loss of life, and called for peace.
He has also expressed support for political prisoners jailed inside Russia.
Shlosberg is a rare example of a figure who opposes the conflict in Ukraine and the government but has stayed in the country.
He has already been fined in the past for violating the foreign agents law and for allegedly "discrediting" the Russian Army.
Yabloko founder and former longtime party leader Grigory Yavlinsky declared his support for Shlosberg on October 2. "I wish him freedom and strength," he said on Telegram.