The court extended the arrest of Golos co-chairman Grigory Melkonyants – Kommersant

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended the arrest term of the co-chairman of the Golos movement (recognized as a foreign agent) Grigory Melkonyants for three months – until January 17, 2024. This was reported by press service Moscow courts of general jurisdiction.

Grigory Melkonyants was charged in the case of organizing the work of an undesirable non-governmental organization (Part 3, Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The maximum penalty for this part is imprisonment for up to six years.

Searches in this case took place in August of this year: security forces searched the home of Grigory Melkonyants in Moscow and another 14 Golos employees in eight regions. Arrested Grigory Melkonyants the very next day, August 18.

“Golos” is a movement in defense of voters’ rights, created in 2013 by members of the “Voice” association, founded back in 2000, but liquidated after being recognized as a foreign agent. On August 18, 2021, the Ministry of Justice recognized the Golos movement as a foreign agent. In 2022, Roskomnadzor blocked the movement’s website due to the publication of “unreliable socially significant information about the Russian military operation in Ukraine.”

Anastasia Larina