2. Election campaigning through the mass media shall be conducted in the form of public debates, discussions, «roundtables», press conferences, interviews, speeches, political advertising, demonstration of TV stories and video films about a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc and in other forms which are not prohibited by law. A registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc shall be entitled to select the form and nature of their election campaigning at their own discretion.

3. Election campaigning shall not be conducted and any kind of election propaganda materials shall not be produced and distributed by:

(a) federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of subjects of the Russian Federation, other state bodies, bodies of local self-government;

(b) persons who hold government and municipal offices, government and municipal employees, servicemen when they are discharging their official duties or taking advantage of their official position and status;

(d) charity and religious organizations and organizations founded by them;

(e) election commissions, voting members of election commissions.

Article 53. Election Campaigning Period

1. Election campaigning shall start from the day of registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates, unless otherwise established by this Federal Law, and shall end at 00.00 local time one day prior to voting day. No election campaigning shall be allowed on voting day and a day before.

2. Printed propaganda materials (leaflets, posters, etc.) which were earlier displayed in places other than the buildings and premises of election commissions in compliance with the rules established by a federal law shall remain in place on voting day.

Article 54. Public Opinion Polls

1. When publishing the results of public opinion polls related to the election the mass media shall indicate the organization which conducted the poll, the time when it was conducted, the number of respondents (sample), the method for the collection of information, the precise formulation of the question, the statistical assessment of a possible error.

2. After the last day of registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates, the organizations which conduct election-related opinion polls with a view of publishing their results in the mass media and the organizations which publish their results and forecasts about the election outcome shall furnish copies of these publications to, respectively, a district election commission or the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to form an information bank from which data shall be available for examination or copying to persons indicated in Clause 1 Article 39 of this Federal Law and to foreign (international) observers on their request.

3. For three days prior to voting day and on voting day the mass media shall not publish any information about the results of public opinion polls, forecasts of election results, other studies related to the election.

Article 55. General Terms and Conditions for the Access of Registered Candidates, Electoral Associations, Electoral Blocs to the Mass Media

1. Organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting (hereafter «TV and radio broadcasting organizations») and editorial offices of periodicals· shall provide equal conditions to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts and to electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered federal lists of candidates for election campaigning, presentation of their programs to voters if these TV and radio broadcasting organizations, periodicals or their editorial offices are founded (co-founded) by the state bodies, organizations, institutions and/or if, in the year preceding the day of official publication of a decision to call the election, these TV and radio broadcasting organizations, editorial offices of periodicals were financed by not less than 15 percent of their budget from the funds allocated by the federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation.

2. TV and radio broadcasting organizations which have a stable reception zone extending to a half or more than a half of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and editorial offices of periodicals distributed in the territory of a half or more than a half of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, if they come within Clause 1 of this Article, shall offer a possibility to conduct election campaigning to electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered lists of candidates. The list of such TV and radio broadcasting organizations and periodicals shall be published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the recommendation of the appropriate federal bodies of executive power which formulate and implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media, not later than the tenth day after official publication of the decision to call the election.

3. TV and radio broadcasting organizations which have a stable reception zone extending to less than a half of the Subjects of the Russian Federation as well as the appropriate divisions of the TV and radio broadcasting organizations indicated in Clause 2 of this Article and editorial offices of periodicals distributed in the territory of less than a half of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, if they come within Clause 1 of this Article, shall offer equal possibilities to conduct election campaigning, respectively, to regional groups of candidates and to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts. The list of such TV and radio broadcasting organizations and periodicals shall be published by the election commissions of Subjects of the Russian Federation on the recommendation of the appropriate territorial agencies of the federal bodies of executive power which formulate and implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media and the bodies of executive power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, not later than the tenth day after official publication of the decision to call election of deputies to the State Duma.

4. TV and radio broadcasting organizations and editorial offices of periodicals which do not come within Clause 1 of this Article shall offer equal possibilities for election campaigning to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, if these TV and radio broadcasting organizations, periodicals or their editorial offices are founded (co-founded) by the bodies of local self-government or if, in the year preceding the day of official publication of a decision to call the election, these TV and radio broadcasting organizations, editorial offices of periodicals were financed by not less than 15 percent of their budget from the funds allocated by the bodies of local self-government. Election campaigning on the channels of these TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the said periodicals shall start after the end of the registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates. These TV and radio broadcasting organizations and editorial offices of periodicals may refuse to make public any propaganda materials if they completely abstain from participation in any form of propaganda activities.

5. An electoral association, electoral bloc shall be free to choose, through its authorized representatives, the forms of its participation in election campaigning on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations, in periodicals.

6. A registered candidate nominated by an electoral association, electoral bloc in a single-mandate electoral district and concurrently included in the federal part of the federal list of candidates of the same electoral association, electoral bloc shall not use free air time and printing space on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the periodicals coming within Clause 2 of this Article.

7. A registered candidate nominated by an electoral association, electoral bloc in a single-mandate electoral district and concurrently included in the federal part of the federal list of candidates of the same electoral association, electoral bloc may use free air time and printing space on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in periodicals indicated in Clause 3 of this Article either as a candidate registered in a single-mandate electoral district or as a candidate included in the regional group of candidates.

8. TV and radio broadcasting organizations and editorial offices of periodicals which do not come within Clauses 1 and 4 of this Article may, on a contractual basis, provide paid air time, printing space to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered federal lists of candidates, regional groups of candidates. The rates and terms of payment shall be the same for all registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs. Information about the rates shall be published by the appropriate TV and radio broadcasting organization, editorial office of the periodical not later than the twentieth day after official publication of the decision to call the election and shall be furnished to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation along with a notification about the readiness to offer air time, printing space to electoral associations, electoral blocs and to the election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation along with a notification about the readiness to offer air time, printing space to registered candidates, regional groups of candidates.

9. TV and radio broadcasting organizations and editorial offices of periodicals (regardless of the form of ownership) which provided free or paid air time and printing space to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs shall keep separate records of the amount and cost of air time and printing space according to the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, and five days before voting day and within five days after voting day shall furnish the data of these records to the election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation with regard to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts, to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation with regard to electoral associations, electoral blocs, including candidates in the federal part of a registered federal list and regional groups, and, upon the request of, respectively, the election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, shall present to them documents confirming the consent of a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc to the provision of paid services and to payment therefor.

10. Specialized TV and radio broadcasting organizations and specialized mass media (cultural-educational, children's, technical, scientific, etc.) may refuse to make public any election propaganda materials provided that they fully abstain from highlighting the election campaign in any form.

Article 56. Terms and Conditions of Election Campaigning on TV and Radio

1. Registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to free air time on the channels of TV and/or radio broadcasting organizations which come within Clause 1 of Article 55 of this Federal Law and carry on television and radio broadcasting in the territory of the given electoral district, on equal terms and conditions (length of air time, timing and other terms and conditions).

2. Within a week upon the end of registration of candidates, lists of candidates arrangements shall be made for lot-drawing in accordance with Clause 10 of this Article to distribute free air time between registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which applied for participation in such lot-drawing.

3. Free air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 1 of Article 55 of this Federal Law shall be made available in the period which begins thirty days prior to voting day and ends a day before voting day, on working days.

4. For the purpose of conducting election campaigning free of charge, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to use air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations that come within Clause 3 of Article 55 of this Federal Law, candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts and regional groups of candidates of electoral associations, electoral blocs - on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 2 Article 55 of this Federal Law. A candidate registered in a single-mandate electoral district shall not use free air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 2 Article 55 of this Federal Law.

5. The total amount of free air time to be made available for election campaigning by each TV and radio broadcasting organization coming within Clause 2 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall be not less than one hour on working days in the period established in Clause 3 of this Article. The total amount of free air time to be made available for election campaigning by each TV and radio broadcasting organization coming within Clause 3 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall be not less than 30 minutes on working days in the same period and, if the total broadcasting time of a TV and broadcasting organization is less than two hours a day, not less than one-fourth of the total broadcasting time. Free air time shall be provided in the broadcast periods viewed or listened to by the greatest number of persons.

6. The amount of free air time to be made available to a regional group of candidates in each Subject of the Russian Federation by a TV and radio broadcasting organization coming within Clause 3 Article 55 of this Federal law shall be calculated by multiplying the amount of air time made available by a TV and radio broadcasting organization to a candidate registered in a single-mandate electoral district in the given Subject of the Russian Federation by the number of single-mandate electoral districts in this Subject of the Russian Federation but shall not exceed the amount thus calculated by more than three times. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall provide equal amounts of air time to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts, regional groups of candidates with due account to the said ratio.

7. One-third of the total amount of free air time made available by TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall be given to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered federal lists of candidates, regional groups of candidates for joint debates, «roundtables» and other joint campaigning events of a similar kind. When air time is made available for joint campaigning events on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 3 Article 55 of this Federal Law this air time shall be calculated and allocated separately for registered candidates and regional groups of candidates with due account to the ratio indicated in Clause 6 of this Article. All registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, regional groups of candidates shall be allowed to use this part of free air time on equal conditions.

8. A refusal of a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, regional group of candidates to participate in joint campaigning events indicated in Clause 7 of this Article shall not entitle them to receive a greater amount of free air time to which they are entitled in accordance with Clause 9 of this Article.

9. The remaining part (two-thirds) of free air time made available by TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall be divided in equal parts between registered candidates, between regional groups of candidates, between electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered federal lists of candidates.

10. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation together with the representatives of the appropriate TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall arrange for lot-drawing to determine concrete dates and time for airing election propaganda materials of electoral associations, electoral blocs. The election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation together with the representatives of the appropriate TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall arrange for lot-drawing to determine concrete dates and time for airing election propaganda materials of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates. Lot-drawing may be witnessed by persons listed in Clause 1 Article 29 of this Federal Law. The results of lot-drawing shall be recorded in a protocol. The schedule of air time distribution determined on the basis of lot-drawing results shall be published in periodicals indicated in Clauses 2 and 3 Article 55 of this Federal Law.

11. The expenses of TV and radio broadcasting organizations incidental to provision of free air time to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, regional groups of candidates shall be covered from current budgets of these TV and radio broadcasting organizations.

12. TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 1 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall reserve air time for election campaigning to be conducted by registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs on a paid basis. The rates and the terms of payment shall be the same for all registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs and shall be published by TV and radio broadcasting organizations not later than 20 days from the day on which a decision to call the election was officially published. The total amount of paid air time to be reserved by each TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall not be less than the total amount of free air time made available in accordance with Clause 5 of this Article but shall not exceed this amount by more than two times.

13. Each registered candidate, regional group of candidates, electoral association, electoral bloc shall be entitled, for a charge, to a part of the total reserved air time, its length being given by the division of this total time by the total number of registered candidates and regional group of candidates respectively (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 6 of this Article) or electoral associations, electoral blocs who registered the federal lists of candidates.

14. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall provide such air time indicated in Clause 12 of this Article in the period indicated in Clause 3 of this Article. The date and time when election propaganda materials are to be aired shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be arranged by a TV and radio broadcasting organization with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written requests for participation in lot-drawing from registered candidates, authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs. Lot-drawing shall be conducted within time limits established by Clause 2 of this Article. Air time shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.

15. If, after lot-drawing, a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, a regional group of candidates refuses to use air time, they shall inform about their decision the appropriate TV and radio broadcasting organization not later than two days before the airing time and the TV and radio broadcasting organization shall be free to use the released air time at its discretion for purposes other than election campaigning.

16. Election campaigning on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations which do not come within Clauses 1 and 4 of Article 55 of this Federal Law may be started directly after registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates in accordance with a contract concluded between a TV and radio broadcasting organization and a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc which has registered a federal list of candidates.

17. Payment for air time by registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs and its provision on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations which do not come within Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall be carried out on equal terms and conditions. TV and radio broadcasting organizations which fail to comply with this requirement and the requirements of Clause 8 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall not provide air time to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs for election campaigning purposes

18. The contracts for the provision of paid air time shall indicate the following: the type (form) of election campaigning; the airing date and time; the length of air time to be provided; the rates and terms of payment; the form and conditions of participation of a journalist (moderator) in the TV and radio program. After the terms of the contract have been carried out a work performance protocol shall be drawn up along with a certificate of the used air time which shall confirm the performance of contractual obligations and indicate the broadcasting channel, the name of the program and its airing time.

19. Not later than two days before provision of air time a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc shall submit a payment order to a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation for remittance of the full amount of payment for the air time. If this requirement is not met, air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall not be provided. The branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit the money not later than the next business day after receipt of the payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed two business days within a Subject of the Russian Federation and five days within the Russian Federation.

20. Payment for air time shall be made solely from the funds of the electoral fund of a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc.

21. If, while using paid air time, a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc violate the terms and conditions established by this Federal Law, a TV and radio broadcasting organization may apply to a court for cancellation of the contract for the provision of air time. If the contract is cancelled, the TV and radio broadcasting organization shall not use the released air time for election campaigning purposes.

22. Transmission of election propaganda materials of a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc shall not be interrupted, in particular, by commercials advertising goods and services.

23. Transmission of propaganda materials of electoral associations, electoral blocs on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations coming within Clause 2 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall not be interrupted for transmission of other TV and radio programs.

24. In TV and radio news programs reports concerning election events conducted by candidates, registered candidates electoral associations, electoral blocs shall be always presented in the form of separate items, as a rule in the beginning of such programs and without any comments. These news items shall not be paid for by candidates, registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs. They shall not give preference to any candidate, registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, particularly, with regard to the time devoted to highlighting their election campaigning.

25. TV and radio programs containing election campaigning shall be aired with simultaneous video and audio recording of the program, with the said recording to be kept by the given TV and radio broadcasting organization for 12 months from the day on which these programs were aired. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall keep records concerning provision of free and paid air time indicated in Clause 9 Article 55 of this Federal Law for five years after voting day.

Article 57. Terms and Conditions of Election Campaigning Through the Printed Mass Media

1. Registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to free printing space in periodicals which come under the provisions of Clause 1 Article 55 of this Federal Law and are published at least once a week, the said printing space to be provided to them on equal terms and conditions (size of the printing space, place on the page, type, and other terms and conditions).

2. Within a week after the end of registration of candidates, lists of candidates lot-drawing shall be arranged for distribution of free printing space among registered candidates, regional group of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs that applied for participation in this lot-drawing.

3. Editorial offices of periodical coming within Clause 1 Article 56 of this Federal Law shall provide free printing space within the period which starts 40 days before voting day and ends one day before voting day.

4. The total minimum weekly printing space which each editorial office of periodicals coming within Clause 1 Article 55 of this Federal Law is to provide free of charge to registered candidates, regional groups of candidates or electoral associations, electoral blocs shall account for not less than 10 percent of the total printing space of the given periodical in the period established by Clause 3 of this Article. The total printing space which the given periodical provides free of charge for election campaigning within a period established by Clause 3 of this Article shall be announced by the editorial office of the periodical not later than 20 days after official publication of a decision to call the election.

5. The printing space to be provided in each Subject of the Russian Federation to a regional group of candidates by the editorial office of a periodical coming within Clause 3 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall be calculated by multiplying the printing space provided by the given editorial office of a periodical to a candidate registered in a single-mandate electoral district in the given Subject of the Russian Federation by the number of single-mandate electoral districts in the given Subject of the Russian Federation but shall not exceed the space thus calculated by more than three times. The said editorial offices of periodicals shall provide an equal amount of printing space to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts and to regional groups of candidates with due account to the said ratio.

6. The total size of free printing space declared by the editorial office of a periodical shall be distributed in equal portions between registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs by dividing the total size of the allocated printing space by the total number of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 5 of this Article), electoral associations, electoral blocs which are entitled to free publication of their propaganda materials in the given periodical.

7. The dates for free publication of election propaganda materials of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be organized by the editorial office of a periodical with the participation of interested persons within a week after the end of registration of candidates, lists of candidates. Lot-drawing may be witnessed by members of the appropriate election commission and persons listed in Clause 1 Article 29 of this Federal Law.

8. The expenses of the editorial offices of periodicals incidental to the provision of free printing space to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs for election campaigning shall be covered from current budget of the editorial offices of periodicals.

9. Editorial offices of periodicals coming within Clause 1 Article 55 of this Federal Law shall reserve printing space for election propaganda materials to be published by registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs on a paid basis. The rates of payment for printing space shall be the same for all registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs and shall be announced by the editorial office of a periodical not later than 20 days after official publication of the decision to call the election. The total printing space to be reserved by the editorial office of a periodical for provision on a paid basis shall not be less than the total free printing space to be made available in accordance with Clause 5 of this Article but shall not exceed this space by more than two times.

10. Each registered candidate, regional groups of candidates, electoral association, electoral bloc shall be entitled, for a charge, to a part of the total reserved printing space given by the division of this total space by the total number of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 5 of this Article) or electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.

11. The printing space indicated in Clause 9 of this Article shall be made available by the editorial office of a periodical within the period indicated in Clause 3 of this Article. The date for the publication of propaganda materials of a registered candidate, regional groups of candidates, electoral association, electoral bloc shall be determined by lot by the editorial office of the periodical with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written applications for participation in lot-drawing submitted by registered candidates, authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs. Law-drawing shall be conducted within the time limits indicated in Clause 2 of this Article. The lot-drawing procedure may be witnessed by members of the appropriate election commission and persons listed in Clause 1 Article 29 of this Federal Law. The results of lot drawing shall be formalized in a protocol.

12. If a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, a regional group of candidates refuses to use printing space after lot-drawing, they shall inform about their decision the editorial office of the periodical not later than five days before publication and the editorial office shall be free to use the released printing space at its discretion for purposes other than election campaigning.

13. The editorial offices of periodicals which do not come within Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law may publish election propaganda materials immediately after registration of a candidate, federal lists of candidates in accordance with a contract to be concluded between the editorial office of a periodical and a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc which has a registered federal list of candidates.

14. The printing space provided by the editorial offices of periodicals which do not come within Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs shall be paid for by them on equal terms and conditions. The editorial offices of periodicals failing to observe this requirements and the requirements of Clause 8 Article 55 of this Federal law shall not provide printing space to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs for election campaigning.

15. Registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs shall pay for printing space in accordance with contracts to be concluded by them with the editorial offices of periodicals after lot-drawing. A payment order issued to a branch of the Savings Bank instructing the Bank to remit the full amount of payment for the printing space shall be submitted by a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc not later than two days prior to the day of publication. If this condition is not observed, printing space shall not be provided. The branch of the Savings Bank shall process the remittance not later than the next banking day upon receipt of the payment order. The time for processing of non-cash remittances shall be two banking days within a Subject of the Russian Federation or five banking days within the Russian Federation.

16. Payment for the printing space shall be made exclusively from an electoral fund of a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc.

17. Election propaganda materials published in accordance with this Article shall not be accompanied by any forms of editorial comment and by headlines and illustrations that are not agreed upon with registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs.

18. The editorial offices of periodicals founded by bodies of legislative (representative), executive and judicial power or by bodies of local self-government exclusively for the publication of their official documents and reports, normative and other acts shall not publish election propaganda materials or editorial comments highlighting the election campaign.

19. The requirement that printing space be made available on equal terms and conditions shall not apply to editorial offices of periodicals if the editorial office and/or the periodical is founded by a registered candidate (candidates), an electoral association, electoral bloc and an electoral association (associations) comprised in an electoral bloc and does not come within Clause 1 Article 55 of this Federal Law.

20. All materials published by periodicals with their publication paid for from the electoral fund of a candidate, registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc shall indicate the candidate, registered candidate, the electoral association, electoral bloc from whose electoral fund the given publication has been paid for. If the materials have been published free of charge in accordance with Clause 1 of this Article, the publication shall indicate that the materials are published free of charge and name the registered candidate, the electoral association, electoral bloc that has been given the possibility to publish these materials.

Article 58. Election Campaigning by Means of Mass Events

1. State bodies and bodies of local self-government shall render assistance to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates, groups of voters for organizing conferences, meetings with voters, public debates and discussions, rallies, demonstrations and marches.

2. Applications for the provision of premises to hold meetings of registered candidates, their agents, agents and authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs with voters shall be considered by state bodies and bodies of local self-government within three days from the day of the submission thereof. Notifications of organizers of rallies, demonstrations and marches shall be considered by bodies of local self-government in accordance with Russian Federation law.

3. On the basis of requests from election commissions, premises which are suitable for holding election-related mass events and are state- or municipality-owned shall be made available by the owner (proprietor), free of charge and for a time to be established by the election commission, to registered candidates, authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs and their agents for meetings with voters. If such premises were made available for mass events to one of registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, the owner (proprietor) of the premises shall not refuse to provide the premises to another registered candidate, another electoral association, electoral bloc on the same terms and conditions. Election commissions shall ensure equal possibilities to hold election-related mass events for registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs.

4. Registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to rent, on a contractual basis, buildings and premises belonging to citizens and organizations, regardless of the form of ownership of the said buildings and premises to hold conferences, meetings with voters, rallies, public debates and other election-related mass events.

5. Buildings and structures included into the State Register of Valuable Memorials of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation shall not be made available for campaigning purposes.

6. No election campaigning shall be allowed in the territory of military units, in military organizations and institutions. Meetings of registered candidates, authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs, their agents with voters - servicemen shall be organized outside the territory of the military unit by the commanding officer of the military unit together with a district election commission, with a mandatory requirement that all candidates registered in the given single-mandate electoral district, all electoral associations, electoral blocs which have registered federal lists of candidates (their authorized representatives) be invited to the meeting not later than three days before the day of each meeting.

7. Security at election-related mass events shall be ensured by the state bodies in accordance with legislation of the Russian Federation .

Article 59. Publication and Distribution of Printed, Audiovisual and Other Propaganda Materials

1. Registered candidates, electoral associations (electoral) blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be free to issue printed, audiovisual and other propaganda materials in the procedure established by legislation of the Russian Federation.

2. Advertising agencies which are founded (co-founded) by state or municipal bodies, organizations, institutions or which were financed by not less than 15 percent of their budget in the year preceding the year of official publication of the decision to call the election from the funds allocated by federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of Subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies of local self-government shall publish propaganda materials of candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts as well as electoral associations, electoral blocs on equal terms and conditions.

3. All printed, audiovisual and other propaganda materials (less the materials to be distributed pursuant to Articles 56 and 57 of this Federal Law) shall contain the names and legal addresses of the organizations (the first, middle and last names and the places of residence of the persons) that prepared printed materials, the name of the organization (the first, middle and last name of the person) that placed an order for printing the given materials and information about the number of copies printed and the date of publication.

4. Prior to their distribution printed, audio-visual and other election propaganda materials or their copies shall be submitted to the appropriate district election commission or territorial election commission by a registered candidate or to the election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation or the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by an electoral association, electoral bloc. Along with the aforementioned materials the appropriate election commission shall be furnished with the information concerning the location (place of residence) of organizations (persons) that have produced and ordered these materials. Printed election propaganda materials shall not be produced and distributed without a written consent of appropriate registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs.

5. Distribution of election propaganda materials in violation of the requirements set forth in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article shall not be allowed.

6. Not later than 30 days prior to voting day, on the recommendation of a district commission the bodies of local self-government shall designate and equip special places for displaying printed election propaganda materials in the territory of each electoral precinct. Such places shall be convenient for voters to visit and be arranged so that voters could read information displayed thereon. Candidates registered in the given electoral district, electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be given equal areas for displaying their printed election propaganda materials. Candidates registered in a single-mandate electoral district as well as authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates may apply to the appropriate district election commission for a list of places designated for the display of printed election propaganda materials.

7. In cases which are not provided by Clause 6 of this Article printed election propaganda materials may be also displayed (posted) indoors, on buildings, structures or other objects only with the consent of the proprietor or owner of the said objects.

8. Printed propaganda materials shall not be hung (posted, displayed) on monuments, obelisks, buildings, structures and premises of historic, cultural or architectural value, inside the premises of election commissions and voting premises or at the entrance thereto.

9. The election commission which was informed about distribution of false printed, audiovisual and other election propaganda materials or about distribution of election propaganda materials in violation of provisions of Clauses 3, 4, 7 and 8 of this Article shall take appropriate measures to stop these activities and shall be entitled to request appropriate law enforcement and other bodies to put an end to unlawful election campaigning and seize unlawful printed election propaganda materials.

Article 60. Inadmissibility of Misuse of the Right to Election Campaigning

1. Misuse of the freedom of mass information in the conduct of election campaigning shall not be allowed. Election programs of registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, election propaganda materials and speeches at meetings and rallies, articles in the mass media shall not contain calls for seizure of power, violent change of the constitutional system and breaking of the integrity of the Russian Federation, propaganda of war. Propaganda exciting social, racial, national, religious hatred or enmity, misuse of the freedom of mass information in other forms banned by legislation of the Russian Federation shall be prohibited. Propaganda in violation of legislation of the Russian Federation on intellectual property shall be prohibited.

2. Candidates, registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs and their authorized representatives, agents and other persons and organizations directly or indirectly involved in election campaigning shall not bribe voters: they shall not give voters money, gifts and other tangible assets otherwise than for the performance of organizational work (attendance at voting premises, collection of voter signatures and other propaganda-related activities), remunerate voters who carried out the said organizational work depending on the results of the voting or promise such remuneration; sell goods at reduced prices; distribute free of charge any goods other than printed materials (including illustrated materials) and badges specially prepared for the election campaign; render services free of charge or at reduced prices. While conducting election campaigning registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs and their authorized representatives or other persons and organizations shall not influence voters by giving them money, securities, other tangible assets (inter alia depending on the voting results) and by rendering services other than on the basis of decisions of bodies of state power and local self-government made in accordance with federal laws.

3. In the course of the election campaign the business and other activities of candidates, registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, agents and authorized representatives of electoral associations, electoral blocs, agents of registered candidates and the organizations whose founders, owners, possessors are and/or whose governing bodies include the said persons shall be advertised only for the account of the appropriate electoral fund on the grounds provided in Clause 17 Article 56, Clauses 14 and 20 Article 57 of this Federal Law. Such advertising shall not be allowed on voting day and the day preceding voting day.

4. When highlighting the election campaign TV and radio programs on the channels of the TV and radio broadcasting organizations indicated in Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law and editorial offices of the periodicals indicated in Clauses 1 and 4 of this Federal Law shall not make public (publish) information that may damage the honor, dignity or business reputation of a registered candidate (registered candidates) if these TV and radio programs and editorial offices of the periodicals cannot give a registered candidate (registered candidates) a possibility to make public (publish) a denial or some other explanation in defense of his/her (their) honor, dignity or business reputation before the end of the election campaigning period. A failure to provide a possibility for a registered candidate (registered candidates) to make public (publish), before the end of the election campaigning period, a denial or other explanations in defense of his/her (their) honor, dignity or business reputation in TV and radio programs on the channels of the TV and radio broadcasting organizations indicated in Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law and in the periodicals indicated in Clauses 1 and 4 Article 55 of this Federal Law which made public (published) the information that may damage the honor, dignity or business reputation of a registered candidate (registered candidates) may serve as a ground for bringing to responsibility these TV and radio broadcasting organizations, editorial offices of the periodicals and their officials undery Russian Federation laws.

5. If a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates breaches Clause 1 of this Article, the election commission shall and other bodies, organizations and citizens specified in Clause 1 of Article 90 of this Federal Law may apply to a court for withdrawal of the registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates. If a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates breaches other election campaigning rules laid down by this Federal Law, an election commission may by its decision issue a warning to the candidate, the electoral association, electoral bloc, or request appropriate law-enforcement and other bodies to put an end to unlawful propaganda activities and in this case the election commission shall be entitled to annul the decision on registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates. The appropriate decision of the election commission shall be submitted to the mass media.

6. Law enforcement and other bodies shall take measures to stop illegal propaganda activities, prevent production of and seize counterfeit and unlawful printed, audio-visual and other propaganda materials, identify the producers of such materials and the source from which they are paid for and promptly inform the appropriate election commission about the facts established and measures taken.

7. If a TV and radio broadcasting organization, an editorial office of a periodical violates the election campaigning rules laid down by this Federal Law the appropriate election commission may apply to law enforcement bodies, courts, executive bodies of state power which implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media and request them to stop the illegal propaganda activities and bring the TV and radio broadcasting organizations, editorial office, their officials to responsibility as provided by Russian Federation laws.

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ПУБЛИКАЦИИ ИРИС

ВЫБОРЫ И ЖУРНАЛИСТСКОЕ РАССЛЕДОВАНИЕ

Автор: ИРИС
Форма выпуска: Книга

Задача журналиста – не только освещать выборы, но и быть настороже относительно всех возможных манипуляций и подтасовок, которые могут использоваться для того, чтобы ввести в заблуждение избирателей, защита права которых на достоверную информацию является профессиональным долгом журналиста.

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