Russia's Election Watchdog Leader Sentenced to Five Years

Grigory Melkonyants, the leader of Russia's sole independent election monitoring organization Golos, has been sentenced to five years in prison for alleged connections with a European watchdog deemed "undesirable." His conviction highlights the increasing repression of dissent in Russia following the Ukraine invasion.

Grigory Melkonyants, co-founder of the Russian election monitoring group Golos, has been sentenced to five years in a prison colony after being convicted on the grounds of collaborating with an “undesirable organization,” according to Russian media outlets and his defense attorney. The decision was handed down on Wednesday by a Moscow court as Melkonyants, 44, endured scrutiny in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2023, which marked a surge in governmental repression.

The charges stemmed from Golos’ past association with the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, which was designated as “undesirable” by Russian authorities in 2021. This classification deems any affiliation with such organizations a criminal act. Golos, founded in 2000, has consistently reported on electoral fraud, particularly gaining attention for its findings related to the 2011 parliamentary elections, which fueled significant protests against President Vladimir Putin's administration.

Since its controversial labeling as a “foreign agent” in 2013, Golos has faced considerable pressure from the state. Colleagues describe Melkonyants as apolitical, focusing on his election monitoring work, even as many activists fled Russia post-invasion. His attorney, Mikhail Biryukov, reported that Melkonyants maintained his innocence throughout the trial, which began in September. His plight has drawn international solidarity, with Amnesty International recognizing him as a prisoner of conscience, emphasizing that his persecution stems solely from his dedication to civil rights and activism.