Kremlin suspends election watchdog for failing to register as 'foreign agent' under controversial new law

Russia’s only independent election monitoring group has been shut down for six months after failing to register as a “foreign agent” under a controversial new law. The legislation requires any organisation receiving funds from abroad to label itself a “foreign agent”, or face fines and closure.

The Soviet-era language suggests subversion and espionage, and Golos along with other groups have refused to comply. The Justice Ministry said Golos would have to suspend its work. The group was central in documenting widespread fraud in elections in 2011 that led to massive protests.