EPDE statement on house searches of Russian election observers

Early on the 5th of October, police forces conducted house searches simultaneously at the central office and in private flats of several election experts of the well-known movement for free elections, "Golos" in the Russian Federation. EPDE strongly condemns this act of repression, intimidation, and unlawful interference with citizens' constitutional right to free elections.

The "Association Golos" was a founding member of EPDE until it was declared a "foreign agent" by the Russian Ministry of Justice in 2012. Following this, EPDE had been cooperating with the unregistered movement "Golos" until EPDE was declared an "undesirable foreign organization" by the Russian Ministry of Justice in 2018. Due to this, EPDE's cooperation with Golos was stopped and has been frozen to this day. EPDE is convinced that the ongoing unconstitutional misuse of power by Russian governmental bodies will not be able to suppress citizens' engagement in free elections in Europe.