«« Ïðåä. | ÎÃËÀÂËÅÍÈÅ | Ñëåä. »»
Chapter VIII. Funding of the Election
Article 54. Funding of the Preparation and Conduct of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation
Article 55. Electoral Funds of Candidates, Registered Candidates
Article 56. Special Electoral Account
Article 57. Voluntary Donations to the Electoral Fund of a Candidate, Registered Candidate
Article 58. Reporting Requirements to Electoral Funds
Article 59. Return of Money by Candidates, Registered Candidates
Article 60. Financial Support of Election Commissions
Article 61. Review and Auditing Service of Election Commissions
ARTICLE 54. Funding of the Preparation and Conduct of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation
1. Expenditures for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and for funding the operation of election commissions during the term of their powers shall be financed from the federal budget. These expenditures shall be included in the federal budget in accordance with the budget classification of the Russian Federation.
2. The funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be placed at the disposal of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within ten days of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election was officially published.
3. In the event of early or repeat elections of the President of the Russian Federation the amount of funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election shall not be less than the sum contained in the report of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the expenditure of funds for the preparation and conduct of the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation (with due account for the change in the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the day on which the decision to call (hold) the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published).
4. If insufficient funds have been allocated from the federal budget to finance the election of the President of the Russian Federation, including an early and repeat election, and if the funds allocated from the federal budget have not been transferred in due time or in full, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be entitled to obtain credits from banks on a competitive basis. In this case, the total allowable amount of funds for the preparation and conduct of the election shall not exceed the sum contained in the report of the Central Election Commission on the expenditure of funds for the preparation and conduct of the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation (with due account for the change in the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the day on which the decision to call (hold) the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published). Within ten days upon receipt of an appropriate request from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the Government of the Russian Federation shall issue a state guarantee to back the obligation to repay the credits and pay interest thereon. The received credits and interest thereon shall be repaid from the federal budget. Allocations for meeting this debt obligation shall be approved as a special expenditure item by the federal budget law for the coming fiscal year. The repeat voting in the election of the President of the Russian Federation may be funded in a similar manner, if the funds initially allocated for the election have been used up.
5. Not later than 90 days prior to voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall remit the funds for the conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation to the election commissions of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, which shall distribute the received funds and remit them to territorial election commissions not later than 40 days prior to voting day. In the event of early or repeat elections and if the election has not been not funded in due time or in full, the election commissions shall distribute and remit funds as they come in.
6. The funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be managed by the chairmen of election commissions who shall be responsible for the compliance of the financial documents with the decisions taken by the election commissions on financial matters and shall ensure that the financial reports regarding the expenditure of the said funds are submitted as and when established by this Federal Law.
7. After the end of the election of the President of the Russian Federation the federal budget funds which were not spent by election commissions shall remain in the accounts of the election commissions acting on a permanent basis (save permanent territorial election commissions) to be used for the purposes provided by this Federal Law.
8. The unspent credits shall be returned by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to the bank from which they were obtained, not later than three months from the day on which the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation were officially published.
ARTICLE 55. Electoral Funds of Candidates, Registered Candidates
1. A candidate shall be obliged to establish his/her own electoral fund.
2. A candidate shall appoint authorized representatives for financial matters. An authorized representative for financial matters of a candidate, registered candidate shall act on the basis of a notarized power of attorney issued by the candidate, registered candidate. The power of attorney shall indicate the first, middle and last name, date of birth, series, number and date of issuance of the passport or an equivalent identity paper, address of the place of residence, main place of work or service (occupation if there is no main place of work), powers of the authorized representative for financial matters (opening of a special electoral account, management of monetary resources of the electoral fund, recording of monetary resources of the electoral fund, checking of their expenditure and receipt, and other powers, including the authority to sign payment documents) and shall show a sample of the seal for financial documents.
3. An authorized representative for financial matters of a candidate, registered candidate shall be registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the basis of an application from a candidate, registered candidate, a power of attorney indicated in Clause 2 of this Article upon production by the authorized representative for financial matters of a candidate, registered candidate of a passport or an equivalent identity paper. The term of powers of an authorized representative for financial matters of a candidate, registered candidate shall commence from the day on which the authorized representative was registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and expire 60 days after voting day or, if court proceedings which involve the given candidate, registered candidate are being conducted, after a final decision was handed down.
4. A candidate, registered candidate may, at any time, terminate the powers of his/her representative for financial matters by serving a notice to this effect on the representative and submitting a copy of the relevant decision to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and to the authorized branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation.
5. Electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates may be formed only by the use of the following financial resources:
(a) a candidate's, registered candidate's own money in the amount that shall not exceed the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published by more than two thousand times and for a candidate, registered candidate for whom the repeat voting was declared by more than three thousand times;
(b) amounts allocated to a candidate, registered candidate by the electoral association which nominated him/her, electoral associations of the electoral bloc which nominated him/her, the sum total of which shall not exceed by more than 200 thousand times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published;
(c) voluntary donations of individuals and legal entities in the amount that shall not exceed by more than 400 times for each individual and 40 thousand times for each legal entity the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published;
(d) money allocated to a registered candidate by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 40 days before voting day, the amount of the money being the same as that allocated to other registered candidates, save as provided otherwise in this Federal Law.
6. The maximum total amount of expenditures of a candidate, registered candidate from his/her electoral fund shall not exceed by more than 300 thousand times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published. The maximum total amount of expenditures of a candidate, registered candidate for whom the repeat voting was declared shall not exceed by more than 400 thousand times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published.
7. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates shall be allowed from:
(a) foreign states and foreign legal entities;
(b) foreign nationals;
(c) stateless persons;
(d) citizens of the Russian Federation under 18 years of age;
(e) Russian legal entities with foreign participation if the share of foreign capital exceeds 30 per cent of their charter (authorized) capital as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published;
(f) international organizations and international public movements;
(g) bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government;
(h) state and municipal institutions and organizations;
(i) legal entities with a state or municipal share in their charter (authorized) capital exceeding 30 per cent thereof as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation was officially published;
(j) military units, military institutions and organizations and law enforcement bodies;
(k) charity organizations and religious associations as well as organizations established by them;
(l) anonymous donors (for an individual person - without indication of any of the following data: the first, middle and last name; the place of residence and date of birth; for a legal entity - without indication of any of the following data: the tax payer's identification number; the name; the date of registration; the bank account; the note indicating the absence of a state or municipal share in the charter (authorized) capital or the presence of such a share and its size; the note indicating the absence of foreign participation in the charter (authorized) capital or the presence of such participation and its share);
(m) legal entities registered less than a year before voting day.
8. The electoral funds shall be managed by candidates, registered candidates who have formed the fund. The resources of electoral funds shall be purpose-oriented and may be used only for:
(a) funding of organizational and technical arrangements for the collection of signatures in support of nomination of a candidate, including remuneration of persons engaged for collection of voter signatures;
(b) election campaigning and payment for information and consulting services;
(c) payment for other services rendered by legal entities or citizens of the Russian Federation and other expenses directly related to the conduct of the election campaign.
9. When making payments for collection of voter signatures, election campaigning, various election events a candidate, registered candidate shall not use any sums of money other than those which have been contributed to his/her electoral fund. In this case, a candidate, registered candidate may use only those sums which were remitted by contributors to the special electoral account of his/her electoral fund prior to voting day in a procedure established by this Federal Law.
ARTICLE 56. Special Electoral Account
1. A candidate shall be obliged to open a special electoral account of his/her electoral fund after the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation has registered the authorized representatives of the electoral association, electoral bloc, initiative voters' group which nominated the candidate but not later than five days before documents are submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for registration of the candidate.
2. A special electoral account for the formation of an electoral fund shall be opened with a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. A candidate may open only one special electoral account. A branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, without any delay, open a special electoral account for a candidate upon presentation of documents required by and executed in accordance with this Federal Law. The bank shall not charge any fee for opening and servicing a special electoral account and shall not pay any interest on the funds kept therein. All funds deposited in a special electoral account shall be in the currency of the Russian Federation.
3. A candidate shall open a special electoral account for the formation of an electoral fund on the basis of a document to be issued by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation after it has registered the authorized representatives of the electoral association, electoral bloc, initiative voters' group which nominated the candidate, simultaneously with the registration of the candidate's representative for financial matters.
4. After his/her registration a candidate shall continue to maintain a special electoral account to finance his/her election campaign, including election propaganda activities.
5. A candidate, registered candidate may, in an established procedure, allow his/her authorized representative for financial matters to manage funds in the special electoral account by giving notice to this effect to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The responsibility for the violation of the election campaign funding rules established by this Federal Law for a candidate, registered candidate shall be borne personally by the candidate, registered candidate.
6. All financial operations involving payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of registered candidates shall be discontinued on voting day. Financial operations for the payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates who have not submitted registration documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in a procedure established by this Federal Law or who have been denied registration or have withdrawn the statement expressing the consent to run or have withdrawn their candidatures or have been recalled by an electoral association, electoral bloc or whose registration has been annulled shall be discontinued by branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation on the instruction of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
7. In the event of the repeat voting financial operations involving payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of registered candidates on whom the repeat voting is to be held shall be resumed after the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation appoints the day of the repeat voting, and shall be discontinued on the day of the repeat voting.
8. Based on an application of a candidate, registered candidate the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may extend the period for the performance of the following financial operations:
(a) for a candidate - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) prior to the date on which the candidate's registration was denied, the candidate was recalled by the electoral association, electoral bloc, the candidate withdrew his/her statement expressing the consent to run before the deadline established by this Federal Law for submission of signature sheets and other registration documents;
(b) for a registered candidate who withdrew his/her candidature, who was recalled by the electoral association, electoral bloc, whose registration was annulled - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) before the date of the withdrawal of the candidature, recalling of the registered candidate, the decision to annul registration;
(c) for other registered candidates - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) before voting day.
ARTICLE 57. Voluntary Donations to the Electoral Fund of a Candidate, Registered Candidate
1. Voluntary donations to the electoral fund of a candidate. registered candidate shall be made by citizens of the Russian Federation from their own funds and shall be paid by them personally to post offices or credit institutions upon production of a passport or an equivalent identity paper, with the payment order showing the donor's first, middle and last name, date of birth and full address of the place of residence.
2. Voluntary donations of legal entities to the electoral fund of a candidate, registered candidate shall be made by means of non-cash transfers to the corresponding special electoral account, with the legal entity making a special note to indicate the presence and size (in percent) or absence of a foreign, state or municipal share in its charter (authorized) capital, its full name, date of registration, tax payer's identification number, bank account.
3. Voluntary donations of individuals and legal entities shall be remitted (credited) to the special electoral account of a candidate, registered candidate by post offices and credit institutions not later than the next banking day after receipt of the payment order. A non-cash payment shall be processed in not more than two banking days within a Subject of the Russian Federation and five days within the Russian Federation.
4. A candidate, registered candidate may return any donation, with the exception of anonymous ones, to donors. If a voluntary donation was paid into the electoral fund of a candidate, registered candidate by an individuals or a legal entity that are not allowed to make such donations or in an amount exceeding that established by Sub-clause «c» Clause 5 Article 55 of this Federal Law, the candidate, registered candidate shall, within ten days after the donation was received to the special electoral account, return it to the donor fully or in an amount exceeding the established maximum limit of donations, minus postage, indicating the reasons for the return. A candidate, registered candidate shall not be held responsible for acceptance of donations whose donors falsified the data required under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, if they were not informed in due time of the inadmissibility of these donations.
5. Within ten days after anonymous donations were received to the special electoral account a candidate, registered candidate shall remit these donations to the federal budget.
6. Individuals and legal entities may financially support the activities conducive to nomination and election of a candidate, registered candidate only through the candidate's electoral fund. No paid work shall be performed, goods sold, paid services rendered, if they are directly or indirectly related to the election, without documents confirming the consent of a candidate, registered candidate or persons authorized by him/her to the performance of the work, sale of the goods, provision of the services and to the payment therefor from the candidate's electoral fund. Legal entities, their branches, representative offices and other divisions shall not perform any work, render any services directly or indirectly related to the election free of charge or at unreasonably low (high) rates. Material support may be rendered to the election-related activity of a candidate, registered candidate only if it is paid for from the electoral funds of the given candidate, registered candidate. During an election campaign an individual may perform work for and render services to a candidate, registered candidate voluntarily, personally and free of charge, without involvement of third persons.
ARTICLE 58. Reporting Requirements to Electoral Funds
1. The procedure for opening and maintaining special electoral accounts, keeping records and filing reports as well as the forms of reports of candidates, registered candidates concerning the sums contributed to and spent from their electoral funds shall be determined by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and agreed with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Candidates, registered candidates shall keep records of the sums contributed to and spent from their electoral funds.
2. Candidates, registered candidates shall file financial reports with the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within the following periods:
(a) the first financial report - when the registration documents are submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in a procedure established by this Federal Law; the report shall be drawn up as of the date five days before the date of the report;
(b) the second financial report - not earlier than 20 days and not later than 10 days prior to voting day; the report shall be drawn up as of the date seven days before the date of the report;
(c) the final financial report - not later than 30 days after the official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. The final financial report shall be submitted together with the primary financial documents confirming the sums contributed to and spent from the electoral fund as well as the materials indicated in Clause 3 Article 52 of this Federal Law.
3. If a candidate, registered candidate has lost his/her status, the obligation to submit a financial report shall be imposed on a person who was a candidate, registered candidate.
4. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall pass copies of financial reports of registered candidates to the mass media within five days upon their receipt.
5. At least once a week and, within a period of less than ten days prior to voting day, at least once every three banking days, the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall furnish to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the information concerning the sums credited to and withdrawn from the special electoral accounts of candidates, registered candidates according to a form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. In this case use may be made of the state automated information system. Periodically, but at least once every two weeks up to voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall furnish the information concerning sums contributed to and spent from the electoral funds to the mass media for publication. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall disclose the information about the sums contributed to and spent from the electoral funds, which it received from the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, to registered candidates and to the mass media on their official requests.
6. The editorial offices of state-run periodicals shall publish the information about the sums contributed to and spent from the electoral funds, passed on to them by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The information concerning the following matters shall be subject to mandatory publication:
(a) a financial operation which involves expenditure of money from the electoral fund in an amount exceeding by more than 2 thousand times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date of official publication of the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation;
(b) the legal entities which donated sums to the electoral fund in an amount exceeding by more than one thousand times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date of official publication of the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation;
(c) the number of individuals who have made donations to the electoral fund, which exceed by more than 100 times the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law as of the date of official publication of the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation;
(d) the sums returned to donors and the reasons for the return;
(e) the total amount of money contributed to the electoral fund and the total amount of money spent therefrom.
7. Within five days upon receipt from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation of a list of legal entities which have made voluntary donations to the electoral funds of candidates. registered candidates, the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation, bodies of state power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies and organizations authorized by them to carry out registration of legal entities shall furnish to these commissions, free of charge, the information indicating the founders of the legal entities; the presence of a foreign, state or municipal share (in percent) or the absence of such a share in the charter (authorized) capital of these legal entities; the full name and date of registration of the legal entities. This information shall be submitted according to forms established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. In this case, use may be made of the state automated information system. Upon the request of candidates, registered candidates, their authorized representatives for financial matters the appropriate election commission shall, without any delay, disclose to them the information which it has at its disposal as of the date of the request. If an election commission has received information about donations made in violation of Clause 7 Article 55 of this Federal Law, this information shall be promptly made known by the election commission to the candidates, registered candidates concerned or to their authorized representatives for financial matters.
ARTICLE 59. Return of Money by Candidates, Registered Candidates
1. Before filing the final financial report a candidate who has not been registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall return the unspent sums remaining in his/her electoral funds to the individuals and legal entities that have donated money to the electoral fund, in proportion to the contributed amounts, minus postage.
2. Within 30 days after voting day (day of the repeat voting, if its was held), a registered candidate who, according to the voting returns, has received not less than 3 percent of the total number of votes cast by voters taking part in the voting or who has participated in the repeat voting as well as a registered candidate who has withdrawn his/her candidature before voting day because of compelling reasons shall return unspent money remaining in his/her electoral fund to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, in proportion to the amounts remitted to the electoral fund by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Upon the elapse of the aforementioned period the branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit the money due to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to the commission's account on its mandatory written instruction.
3. After returning the money to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation but before filing the final financial report a registered candidate coming within Clause 2 of this Article shall, with the concurrence of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, remit unspent sums remaining in his/her electoral fund, minus postage, to the individuals and legal entities that have made donations to the electoral fund, in proportion to the donated amounts.
4. Within 30 days after voting day (day of the repeat voting, if it was held), a registered candidate who does not come within Clause 2 of this Article shall return the full amount of money received under this Federal Law from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for the formation of his/her electoral fund and payment of travel expenses. Upon the elapse of the aforementioned period the branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit the money due to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to the commission's account on its mandatory written instruction.
5. Within three days after official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall notify registered candidates who do not come within Clause 2 of this Article about the amount of budget funds that were previously allocated to them under this Federal Law for the formation of their electoral funds and payment of travel expenses and now have to be returned.
6. A registered candidate who does not come within Clause 2 of this Article shall not return any unspent sums remaining in his/her electoral funds to the individuals and legal entities that have made donations to his/her electoral fund before money has been returned to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. After money has been returned to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation a registered candidate who does not come within Clause 2 of this Article shall remit the unspent sums remaining in his/her electoral fund to the accounts of the individuals and legal entities in proportion to the donated amounts.
7. Upon the elapse of 60 days after voting day, on a written instruction of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit to the budget the sums remaining in the special electoral accounts of electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates.
8. If an electoral fund is short of or has no money, a registered candidate shall return budget funds to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation at his/her own expense.
9. A registered candidate who does not come within Clause 2 of this Article and who failed to meet the requirements of Clause 4 of this Article before filing the final financial report may return budget funds to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within 12 months after voting day, if, when filing the final financial report in due time established by this Federal Law, he/she submits a notarized personal statement wherein he/she assumes an obligation to repay the debt.
10. If the obligations assumed in the statement submitted in pursuance of Clause 9 of this Article have not been fulfilled, the money shall be collected on the basis of a court order upon expiration of the period indicated in the statement for the return of the money. If a registered candidate who does not come within Clause 2 of this Article and failed to meet the requirements of Clause 4 this Article before filing the final financial report has not submitted a statement indicated in Clause 9 of this Article, the money shall be collected from this candidate on the basis of a court order upon the elapse of the period for filing the final financial report.
11. If a candidate, registered candidate has lost his/her status, the obligations established in this Article in respect of candidates, registered candidates shall be assumed by the citizen who was a candidate, registered candidate.
12. In the election of the President of the Russian Federation, a citizen of the Russian Federation and having arrears on repayment of budget funds to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation or the election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation as of the day of official publication of the decision to call (hold) this election shall not be entitled to receive any funds from the federal budget.
ARTICLE 60. Financial Support of Election Commissions
1. The funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and for funding the operation of election commissions shall be used by election commissions at their discretion for the purposes established by this Federal Law.
2. The allocations from the federal budget including the funds remaining from the previous periods shall be used to finance the following expenditures of election commissions:
(a) on the participation in the formation of electoral funds of registered candidates, in a procedure and amount established by this Federal Law;
(b) on the payment of compensations and transport expenses, with the exception of taxi and chartered transport, to registered candidates, in a procedure and amount established by Article 41 of this Federal Law;
(c) on the additional remuneration of voting members of election commissions, staff members of commissions and people who work in commissions under civil-law contracts;
(d) on the production of printed materials and publishing; on the acquisition and installation of technological equipment;
(e) on the payment of transport expenses, including expenses on the organization of voting in remote and hard-to-reach areas;
(f) on the delivery and safekeeping of electoral documentation;
(g) on the development of the electoral system, including introduction of new election technologies, means of automation, legal education of voters and election organizers, implementation of purpose-oriented programs;
(h) on the payment of travel and other expenses incidental to the conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation; on the support of the powers and operation of election commissions.
3. Russian Federation citizens who, on the request of an election commission, have been released from the main job for the period of the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation to discharge a state duty of a voting member of an election commission shall receive the average salary at the main job to be paid by the organization regardless of its form of ownership. Additional remuneration may be paid to voting members of an election commission from the funds allocated for the conduct of the election, in a procedure and amount to be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
4. Labor remuneration of voting members of an election commission who are on the permanent staff thereof shall be paid within the limits of federal budget funds allocated to the election commission, in a procedure and amount established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
5. The procedure for opening and maintaining bank accounts, accounting, reporting, remitting funds allocated by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to other election commissions shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and agreed with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The banks shall not charge any fee for opening and servicing accounts of election commissions and shall not pay any interest on the funds kept therein. Election commissions shall keep accounting records to record the expenditure of funds allocated to them from the federal budget.
6. The forms of financial reports of election commissions on the receipt and expenditure of funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and the forms to be used for presentation of the information concerning the sums contributed to and spent from electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and agreed with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
7. A precinct election commission shall submit a financial report to the territorial election commission on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given precinct election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation not later than ten days after voting day (day of the repeat voting, if it was held). A territorial election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given territorial election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation to the election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation not later than 25 days after voting day (day of the repeat voting, if it was held).
8. The election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation shall submit to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation a financial report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation not later than 60 days after the day of official publication of the general election results.
9. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall submit a financial report on the expenditure of federal budget funds and the information concerning the sums contributed to and spent from electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and shall pass them on to the mass media not later than three months after the day of official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. The said financial report and information shall be published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in its official bulletin not later than one month after their submission to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
ARTICLE 61. Review and Auditing Service of Election Commissions
1. The review and auditing service of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and review and auditing services of the Subjects of the Russian Federation shall be organized to exercise control over correct utilization of funds allocated to election commissions and monitor the sources, correct recording and use of the resources of electoral funds.
2. The review and auditing service shall include the head and the deputy head (deputy heads) of the service; members of the appropriate election commission appointed to the review and auditing service; specialists of the review and auditing service from the staff of state (law-enforcement, fiscal and other) bodies, organizations and institutions, including the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. On the request of the appropriate election commission these bodies shall, not later than a month after the day of official publication of the decision to call (hold) the election of the President of the Russian Federation, assign specialists to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for a period of not less than six months and to the election commissions of the Subjects of the Russian Federation for a period of not less than four months.
3. Specialists of the review and auditing service shall be released from their main job to perform their duties and shall receive their salary and other payments at the main place of employment.
4. The statute of the review and auditing service shall be approved by the appropriate election commission. The organizational, legal and logistical support for the review and auditing service of election commissions shall be provided by the appropriate election commissions.
5. The review and auditing service shall be entitled to monitor transfers to electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates, review recording and utilization of these transfers and check for correct utilization of the funds allocated to lower-level election commissions, using, if necessary the state automated information system. For the accomplishment of these purposes the review and auditing service acting on the requests of an election commission shall:
(a) verify financial reports of candidates, registered candidates, lower-level election commissions;
(b) request information concerning all matters within its scope of competence and receive this information from candidates, registered candidates, election commissions;
(c) apply to federal bodies of executive power, other bodies of state power, organizations of all forms of ownership and to individuals on all matters within the scope of its competence, request the necessary information and documents relating to the funding of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. Information and documents requested by a review and auditing service shall be provided within ten days and, five days to one day prior to voting day and on voting day, immediately;
(d) draw up documents recording financial irregularities in the funding of the election of the President of the Russian Federation;
(e) request the appropriate election commissions to call to account candidates, registered candidates as well as individuals and legal entities for the violations committed by them in the funding of the election campaign;
(f) engage experts for the performance of audits and preparation of reports and expert assessments.
«« Ïðåä. | ÎÃËÀÂËÅÍÈÅ | Ñëåä. »»
| 
