Thu Jun 12 02:03:34 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:**

**Summary:**

Russia is intensifying its crackdown on dissent, as evidenced by the harsh sentencing of Alexei Navalny’s associate, Leonid Volkov, in absentia, and the house arrest of Yabloko party member Lev Shlosberg. Volkov received an 18-year prison sentence on multiple charges including terrorism justification, while Shlosberg faces charges of discrediting the army for advocating a ceasefire in Ukraine. Both cases are widely considered politically motivated and highlight the Kremlin’s growing suppression of opposition and civil society following the invasion of Ukraine.

**News Article:**

**Russia Escalates Crackdown on Dissent: Opposition Figures Targeted**

**Moscow, June 12, 2025** – Russian authorities are intensifying their campaign against dissent, as evidenced by the harsh sentencing of a prominent opposition figure and the placement of another under house arrest. The actions underscore the Kremlin’s increasingly restrictive environment for political opposition and critical voices.

Leonid Volkov, a close associate of the late Alexei Navalny, was sentenced in absentia to 18 years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted on charges including justifying terrorism and extremism. In addition to the prison term, Volkov was fined and barred from using the internet for a decade. Volkov, who left Russia several years ago due to pressure from authorities, reacted to the news with sarcasm on social media. The case against him is widely viewed as politically motivated.

Separately, Lev Shlosberg, a senior member of the Yabloko Opposition party, was placed under house arrest following charges of discrediting the Russian army. A court in Pskov ordered the detention pending investigation, citing a social media post calling for a ceasefire in Russia’s war with Ukraine. Shlosberg denies involvement with the post. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. Shlosberg, a known critic of the war, was previously labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian government.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has systematically suppressed dissent, targeting rights groups, independent media, civil society organizations, LGBTQ+ activists, and religious groups. These recent actions against Volkov and Shlosberg signal a further tightening of control and a shrinking space for opposition voices in Russia.

(The Hindu)

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