Representation of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on Stopping Unlawful Propaganda Activity of and Bringing to Responsibility the ORT TV and Radio Broadcasting Organization and its Officials
APPROVED
by Resolution of the Central Election
Commission of the Russian Federation
No. 32/420-3 of October 29, 1999
At its meeting on October 29, 1999 the Working Group for monitoring compliance by electoral process participants with the rules and procedures for conducting election propaganda in the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the third convocation considered the materials of the analytical program «Author's Program of S. Dorenko» aired on October 17 and October 24, 1999.
In accordance with Clause 2 Article 8 of the Federal Law «On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation» (hereafter «the Federal Law») election propaganda means the activities aimed to encourage or encouraging voters to participate in the election and to vote for or against any registered candidate, for or against any federal list of candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
The federal list of candidates of the electoral bloc «Fatherland - All Russia» was registered on October 9, 1999 (Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation No. 21/225-3 of October 9, 1999). E.M. Primakov and Yu.M. Luzhkov are leaders of this electoral bloc.
The materials of the analytical program «Author's Program of S. Dorenko» considered by the Working Group show that the anchor and author of this program conducts propaganda against the leaders and the entire federal list of candidates of the electoral bloc «Fatherland - All Russia.»
Under Articles 55 and 56 of the Federal Law a TV and radio broadcasting organization and its officials (including anchors) are not independent subjects of propaganda activity.
Clause 4 Article 60 of the Federal Law does not allow any information to be publicized (published) if it can damage the honor, dignity or business reputation of a registered candidate (registered candidates). If such information has been made public (published) on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and on the pages of periodicals, these organizations must, before December 18, 1999, provide to the registered candidate (registered candidates) a possibility to refute this information or must otherwise ensure protection of the candidate's (candidates') honor, dignity and business reputation.
In pursuance of Clause 7 Article 60 of the Federal Law the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation requests the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Affairs of the Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications to take measures to stop unlawful propaganda activity of the ORT TV and radio broadcasting organization, connected with the preparation and airing of the analytical program «Author's Program of S. Dorenko» and to bring to responsibility this organization and its officials as provided by Russian Federation laws.
| 
