Russian Election Watchdog Leader Faces Trial Amid Crackdown

Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of Golos, is accused of running an 'undesirable' organization, a charge he claims is politically driven.

Grigory Melkonyants, a prominent figure in Russia's election monitoring, is on trial facing up to six years in prison.
The charges against Melkonyants are part of a broader crackdown on Kremlin critics following Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
Golos, the election watchdog co-chaired by Melkonyants, has been under government pressure since its founding in 2000.
In 2013, Golos was labeled a 'foreign agent,' and in 2016, it was dissolved as an NGO by the Russian Justice Ministry.
Despite not being officially declared 'undesirable,' Golos's association with banned international groups has led to increased scrutiny.