Moscow Court Convicts Election Monitor Leader Amid Crackdown
Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of Russian election watchdog Golos, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of organizing an 'undesirable' organization. He denies the charges, calling them politically motivated amid a broader crackdown on Kremlin critics since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Country:
- Russian Federation
A Moscow court sentenced Grigory Melkonyants, a key figure in an independent election monitoring organization, to five years in prison on Wednesday. He was found guilty of organizing activities for an 'undesirable' group.
Melkonyants, co-chair of Golos, Russia's major election watchdog, firmly rejected the charges, describing them as politically motivated. The legal action is part of a continuing clampdown on critics and rights activists following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Golos has played a crucial role in identifying electoral violations in Russia since its establishment in 2000, despite facing increasing governmental pressure over the years.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Advertisement
ALSO READ
North Korea's Security Chief Joins High-Profile Meeting in Russia
Diplomacy at Play: Turkish Efforts to Mediate Russia-Ukraine Talks
China Denies Supplying Lethal Arms to Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Russia's Push for Peace: Drafting a Path to Ceasefire
Russia's Drone Offensive: A Soaring Threat to Ukraine
Google News