Independent Russian election-monitoring group Golos shuts down after co-chair is sentenced to prison
The Russia-wide independent election-monitoring group Golos has announced that it is ceasing operations. The decision, according to a statement released by the organization, follows the sentencing of its co-chair, Grigory Melkonyants, to five years in prison on charges of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization.
“This court ruling leaves us no choice. It places not only every participant in Golos at risk of criminal prosecution, but even those who simply sought consultations or legal assistance,” the group said.
All of Golos’s regional branches will be shut down. All of its projects, along with its information resources — including the organization’s website, its “Map of Violations,” and its social media accounts — will be taken offline and no longer updated. Monthly donation subscriptions in support of Golos will also be discontinued.
The organization cautioned anyone living in Russia or planning to travel there to avoid reposting material from its website or social media accounts and to delete any previous shares, in order to avoid potential prosecution for distributing content from an “undesirable organization.”
“Justice, sadly, does not always prevail — it must be fought for. And there is always a risk of losing. This time, we lost. Farewell,” the statement reads.
Golos had operated since 2000, first as an association, and later as a civic movement. In 2013, the Russian Justice Ministry designated the Golos Association a “foreign agent.” Some of its members then established the Golos movement, which continued to monitor elections. The association was later officially dissolved.
Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023 on criminal charges based on allegations that Golos had ties to the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO). In September 2021, Russian authorities designated ENEMO an “undesirable organization.” Neither the Golos Association nor the Golos movement, however, has ever been officially labeled “undesirable” by the Russian government.
By the time ENEMO was banned, the Golos Association had already ceased to exist, and the civic movement bearing the same name was not affiliated with it. Nevertheless, the group said in its statement, the court’s verdict “effectively equates Golos with ENEMO.”
