US EditionRussia's Independent Voice Silenced: Golos Shuts Down
RUSSIA, JUL 8 – Golos will close all operations after co-chair Grigory Melkonyants was sentenced to five years for organizing an undesirable organization amid ongoing government pressure.
- Golos, Russia's main independent election observer, announced its closure on July 8, 2025, after 25 years of monitoring elections from Russia.
- The closure followed a Moscow court's sentencing in May 2025 of Golos co-chair Grigory Melkonyants to five years for cooperating with an organization deemed undesirable.
- Golos stated that maintaining its activities could expose both its members and supporters to legal consequences amid ongoing government pressure, including its designation as a foreign agent since 2011 and the closure of its regional offices.
- The group expressed that the verdict forced their hand, stressing that their work focuses on protecting voters' rights rather than engaging in political campaigns, and they mourned that pursuing justice requires ongoing effort despite the possibility of setbacks.
- Golos's shutdown marks a significant loss for independent oversight in Russia, coinciding with laws enabling citizenship revocation and ongoing repression of dissent under Putin’s government.
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The former co-president of Golos speaks: "Here the rule of law no longer exists, there is a split between power and society but we had no choice"
·Turin, Italy
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Russia's Independent Voice Silenced: Golos Shuts Down
Russia's sole independent election watchdog, Golos, announced its closure after co-chairman Grigory Melkonyants was jailed for five years. The court ruling, condemning him for working with an 'undesirable organisation,' was seen as a move to suppress the group's efforts in exposing electoral fraud since 2011.
·India
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The only independent agency in Russia to monitor the elections announced Tuesday that it was closed, after the decision of a court to condemn him for 5 years of imprisonment to the co-chairs of the organization, found guilty...
·Romania
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources26
Leaning Left7Leaning Right4Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Left
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left
44% Left
L 44%
C 31%
R 25%
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