CHAPTER VII. CAMPAIGNING DURING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA
Article 39. General Terms and Conditions of the Access of Candidates, Electoral Associations, Electoral Blocs, Referendum Initiative Groups to Mass Media
Mass media outlets whose founders (co-founders) are
state or municipal bodies, organizations, establishments, or who are financed
completely or partially from the relevant budget (federal budget, budget
of Subject of Russian Federation, local budget) or at the expense of the
bodies of local self-government as well as those enjoying tax and other
exemptions, if compared with other mass media, shall provide equal conditions
of election campaigning to registered candidates, electoral associations,
electoral blocs.
The mass media which do not come under the provisions
of Clause 1 of this Article may provide air time, space in printed media
to registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, referendum
initiative groups on a contractual basis. Candidates, electoral associations,
electoral blocs shall pay for air time and printed matter on equal terms
and conditions exclusively through the appropriate electoral funds.
In cases provided by federal constitutional laws, federal laws, lows of
Subjects of Russian Federation a referendum initiative group shall pay
for air time and printed matter through a referendum participation fund.
Article 40. Terms and Conditions for Campaigning through Electronic Mass Media
Registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral
blocs, referendum initiative groups shall be entitled to free air time
on the channels of TV and radio companies coming under the provisions of
Clause 1 of Article 39 of this Federal law and engaged in TV and radio
broadcasting in the territory wherein elections, a referendum is to be
held. The said air time shall be provided during the prime periods
when TV and radio programs are viewed and listened to by the greatest number
of persons. The total free air time provided by each Russian national
TV and radio company for campaigning in elections to federal bodies of
state power shall be not less than one hour on working days. The
total free air time provided by each regional TV and radio company for
election campaigning in elections to federal bodies of state power and
in elections to bodies of state power of Subject of Russian Federation
shall be not less than 30 minutes on working days and, if the total broadcasting
time of the TV and radio company is less than two hours, no less than one-fourth
of the total broadcasting time. The said free air time shall be distributed
between registered candidates and electoral associations, electoral blocs
on an equal footing.
Not less than one-third of the total free air time
shall be given to candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs for
joint discussions, roundtables and similar propaganda events. This
part of free air time shall be accessible to all registered candidates,
electoral associations, electoral blocs on an equal footing.
TV and radio companies coming under the provisions
of Clause 1 of Article 39 of this Federal Law in regard of the level of
elections shall reserve paid air time for election campaigning of candidates,
electoral associations, electoral blocs. This air time shall be made
available for a charge on a contractual basis to candidates, electoral
associations, electoral blocs on their request. The charge shall
be the same for all candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs
and announced no later than the day on which nomination of candidates (lists
of candidates) begins or no later than ten days after announcement of the
voting day in a referendum. Each candidate, electoral association,
electoral bloc shall be entitled to a part of the total reserved air time
given by division of this time by the total number of registered candidates
(electoral associations, electoral blocs). The total reserved air
time shall not be less than the total free air time provided in accordance
with Clause 1 of this Article.
The provision of air time to registered candidates,
electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, referendum
initiative groups on the channels of the state TV and radio companies coming
under the provisions of Clause 1 of Article 39 of this Federal Law shall
be regulated by federal constitutional laws, federal laws, laws of Subjects
of Russian Federation.
Expenses incurred by state municipal TV and radio
companies in connection with the free allocation of air time to registered
candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, initiative groups
for referendum shall be covered by current funding from the budget.
Article 41. Terms and Conditions for Campaigning through Printed Mass Media
Periodicals coming under the provisions of Clause
1 of Article 39 of this Federal Law and distributed in the territories
wherein elections, referenda are to be held, with the exception of publications
founded by bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government exclusively
for publication of official reports and materials, normative and other
acts shall provide spaces for materials submitted by candidates, electoral
associations, electoral blocs, referendum initiative groups. The
total minimum space of this kind and the ratio between its parts provided
by periodicals free of charge at the expense of their current budget financing
and on a paid basis shall be established by federal constitutional laws,
federal laws, laws of Subjects of Russian Federation. Specialized
publications (children’s, technical, scientific and others) may refuse
to publish any propaganda materials whatsoever provided they completely
abstain from any participation in the election campaign, preparation and
holding of referenda.
The provisions of Clause 1 of this Article shall
not apply to periodicals founded by registered candidates, electoral associations,
electoral blocs, referendum initiative groups and electoral associations
comprised in electoral blocs.