2023-08-17 20:09:23
The co-chairman of the respected Russian election observation organization Golos, Grigory Melkonyants, was arrested yesterday. This was announced by his lawyer, as reported by Russian state media. According to the lawyer, charges were brought once morest Melkonyants for allegedly leading an “undesirable organization”. If convicted, Melkonjanz might face up to six years in prison.
According to the independent Internet portal Medusa, security forces searched the homes of Melkonjanz and 14 other Golos coordinators in eight regions of the country yesterday. Russian media published a video from Melkonyants’ apartment. The Golos boss then fills out documents during the search in the presence of police officers.
The independent election observer organization Golos (English: “Voice”) has existed since 2000. It campaigns for free voting rights for the Russian population. Golos was declared a “foreign agent” by the Justice Department in 2012.
Russia suspects another US citizen of espionage
Meanwhile, the Russian authorities are also taking action once morest a US citizen of Russian origin on “suspicion of espionage”. The Lefortovo court announced the new allegations once morest the businessman, who has already been sentenced to prison for bribery, according to Russian state media yesterday. Information regarding the exact nature of the allegations is not yet known.
The man was born in Russia, according to media reports, but later moved to the United States and took US citizenship there. In September 2022, the company manager was sentenced in Moscow to three and a half years in prison following allegations of bribery. According to official information, those close to former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich were also involved in the case.
Multiple arrests of US citizens
In recent years, multiple arrests of US citizens in Russia have caused a stir and strained relations between the two countries, in some cases even before the Russian war of aggression once morest Ukraine began.
The American Paul Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 on allegations of espionage. Basketball player Brittney Griner was arrested in 2022 and accused of illegal drug possession – she was later exchanged for the Russian arms dealer Viktor But, who was imprisoned in the United States.
In March of this year, the Russian secret service FSB arrested the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich – also on alleged espionage. Solid evidence of such espionage allegations has never been provided by Russian authorities.
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