The co-chair of an independent Russian election monitoring watchdog, Grigory Melkonyants, went on trial Friday accused of cooperation with an “undesirable” organization. The trial of the co-leader of Golos, one of Russia’s most prominent rights movements, comes as Moscow has intensified its crackdown on critical voices since launching its offensive in Ukraine. Melkonyants, who denies the charges, has spent over a year in custody and risks up to six years in prison if found guilty. Golos, which means vote or voice, monitors electoral campaigns and regularly denounces vote rigging. The prosecuti…