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.

Why has Golos been forced to close?

Golos said Tuesday that the jailing of Melkonyants had been an attempt to silence the group. 

Melkonyants, 44, one of Russia’s most respected election law experts, was found guilty in May of working with the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), which Russia has labelled an "undesirable organisation."

Golos has repeatedly denied the accusations but says the court ruling effectively equated it with ENEMO, exposing members and ordinary citizens seeking advice to prosecution.

"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, adding simply: "Goodbye."

The group said it had provided a valuable non-partisan service to Russia. Golos’s regional offices have now closed.

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.

Golos described itself as an "all-Russian social movement in defense of voters' rights," maintaining a hotline and publishing detailed reports on election violations for years. International observers have long reported widespread intimidation, ballot stuffing, and other fraud in Russia’s elections.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn