On 14 December 2016 the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) reported that Lilia Shibanova was being prevented from leaving Russia. Lilia Shibanova is a founder of the independent Russian election monitoring network, Golos. Since 2013 she has been a resident of Lithuania, where she works as an election expert. As RFE/RL has reported, Lilia Shibanova, then chair of the Moscow-based independent election monitor Golos, left Russia in September 2013 after the Justice Ministry suspended, in June 2013, the group's activities as a result of its refusal to register as a 'foreign agent' NGO. In April 2013 courts had imposed large fines on both Golos and Lilia Shibanova under the 'foreign agent' law. RFE/RL reported that Lilia Shibanova said at that time that Golos was being targeted 'for uncovering widespread violations in elections.' Since 2015 Lilia Shibanova has been a board member of the EPDE.