Article 91 of the Code regulates the auditing of campaign accounts by the CEC. There is a concern with Article 91(3), which allows the CEC to verify data in the campaign finance reports. The concern is that the CEC, established by the parliamentary parties, can start contacting the contributors to non-parliamentary parties even if there is no factual basis that would suggest an enquiry is justified. Such a provision is often abused. The regulatory body contacts a contributor and the contributor, due to the political considerations, denies making the contribution. The political party and its officials then face criminal sanctions. The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR recommend that Article 91(3) is amended to provide objective and non-discriminatory criteria that are required to be satisfied before the CEC can contact contributors of private funds.
