Russia's top independent election monitor Golos shuts down

Russia's main independent election observer, Golos, has announced its closure after more than two decades of monitoring an increasingly tightly controlled electoral system.

The group made the announcement less than two months after its co-chair, Grigory Melkonyants, was sentenced to five years in a penal colony.

What is Golos?

Golos — which means "voice" in Russian — had long documented voting fraud across Russia as elections under President Vladimir Putin turned into what critics call a ritual with little genuine competition.

In the 2024 presidential election, Putin faced no real opposition, while dissent has become dangerous amid Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

"Justice, alas, does not always win — it must be fought for. And there is always the risk of losing. This is how it turned out this time," Golos said in an online statement, adding simply: "Goodbye."

The group said it had "no choice" but to shut down its operations, as continuing would put participants at risk. Golos’s regional offices have now closed.

More to come...