16:30, 12 May 2025

Prosecution demands requested six years in colony for Melkonyants

Grigory Melkonyants, May 12, 2025: photo by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The Prosecutor's Office (PO) has requested six years of freedom deprivation for Grigory Melkonyants, a co-chairman of the “Golos” (Vote) Movement* in the case of organizing the activities of an undesirable foreign nongovernmental organization (NGO).

Melkonyants is accused of cooperating with the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)**. He refuses to admit his guilt. The “Golos” Movement* is not associated with the ENEMO**, and the “Golos” Association* of the same name, which was a member of the ENEMO**, was liquidated by the court back in 2020, a year before the ENEMO** was recognized as an undesirable organization, Grigory Melkonyants' associates assert.

The today's hearing of the case began late due to the delay in delivering Melkonyants to the courthouse, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent who was present in the courtroom has reported. Before the hearing, Grigory Melkonyants said that he was in a cheerful mood, and in response to a question about the hope of release, he said: "The question is rhetorical."

During the debate, the prosecutor has treated the Melkonyants' guilt as proven. According to the prosecution, he allegedly continued the activities of the undesirable organization ENEMO**, being the co-chairman of the "Golos" Movement*. The prosecutor asked to sentence him to six years of freedom deprivation in a general regime colony, and a ban on participation in public organizations for ten years. The court has denied the defence's motions for a postponed hearing to study the case materials and for the resumption of the judicial investigation.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 12, 2025 at 02:15 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

*On August 18, 2021, the "Golos" (Vote) all-Russian public movement in defence of voters' rights was included in the new register of unregistered public associations performing the functions of a foreign agent. The movement's website is blocked in Russia. included in the register of foreign agents.

**On September 27, 2021, The Russian Attorney General’s Office declared the activities of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) “undesirable” in Russia.