Russian authorities raided the homes of activists from Golos as they opened a criminal investigation against the co-chairman of the election-monitoring group. TASS and RIA-Novosti said the Investigative Committee targeted Grigory Melkonyants for "running an undesirable organization," a crime under Russia law. A video released by authorities showed Melkonyants at his Moscow home while a search was ongoing. Investigators searched homes of Golos members in several regions. Another Golos official, Stanislav Andreichuk, said the raids were linked to the group’s past work with a European election consortium. A well-regarded NGO that had monitored Russian elections since 2000, Golos was designated a "foreign agent" in 2021. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russian Authorities Open Criminal Case Against Head Of Election Monitoring Watchdog
Golos' co-chairman Grigory Melkonyants is being investigated for working for "an undesirable organization." (file photo)