Russia’s leading independent election-monitoring group Golos said it is disbanding after a court in May sentenced its co-chair, Grigory Melkonyants, to five years in prison for “organising the activities of an undesirable organisation.” In a statement published 8 July, the 25-year-old movement said the ruling effectively equates Golos with the blacklisted European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, exposing staff, volunteers and even past beneficiaries to possible criminal prosecution. Golos will close all regional branches, halt projects such as its online “Map of Violations,” stop fundraising and delete its web and social-media presence. The group urged supporters inside Russia to erase previous shares of its materials to avoid liability under the 2015 law that criminalises cooperation with organisations deemed undesirable. Founded in 2000, Golos documented vote-rigging in landmark contests including the disputed 2011 parliamentary election and the 2012 presidential vote that returned Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin. It was first branded a “foreign agent” in 2013 and again in 2021, but had continued to train observers and operate hotlines despite mounting pressure. The shutdown removes one of the few independent watchdogs ahead of regional elections slated for mid-September, underscoring the Kremlin’s accelerated clampdown on civil society before the next nationwide polls.