Home > 1.3.1.1.2 Accessibility to the media by participants in the election > KYRGYZ REPUBLIC - On Presidential and Jogorku Kenesh Elections
 
 
 
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Article 24
 

Election campaign via TV and radio


1. Candidates and political parties nominating list of candidates shall have the right to get free air time on the TV and radio channels that fall under item 18, Article 22 hereof and broadcast within the territory of the elections. The mentioned air time should be provided in the period, when TV and radio programs gather the largest audience, namely between 8 pm – 12 pm.


2. The total volume of free air time allocated by the state TV and radio company for the purposes of presidential and Jogorku Kenesh campaigning must be at least one hour on working days. The mentioned free air time should be distributed on an equal basis among the registered candidates and political parties nominating list of candidates that have shown up for broadcast.


3. No less than one third of the total free air time shall be allocated to candidates or political parties nominating list of candidates exclusively for joint discussions, round table meetings and other similar campaigning events. All candidates and political parties must have equal access to such a share of free air time.
During joint campaigns on the TV and radio channels, the registered candidates may only participate personally, while political parties can do it through their authorized representatives and proxies. Refusal to participate in the joint campaigning shall not result in increase of free air time provided to the registered candidate or political party that has refused to participate in the joint campaigning event.
If a candidate or representatives of political party have failed to participate in the joint election campaign for objective cause, they may require using their free air time together with other candidates or political parties that have failed to participate in the joint event.


4. TV and radio companies that fall under item 18 of Article 22 hereof must book paid air time for campaigning by candidates or political parties, as applied to the level of elections. The mentioned air time should be provided to a candidate or political party on their request, on a contractual basis, for payment. The total volume of the booked air time may not be less than the total volume of free air time; the amount of payment should be the same for all candidates and political parties. In addition, each candidate and political party shall have a right of getting the share of time out of the total booked air time, which was obtained as a result of dividing that volume by the total number of candidates and political parties.
The cost of paid air time provided to candidates and political parties cannot exceed the cost charged 6 months prior to election call.


5. It is forbidden to interrupt speeches of candidates and representatives of political parties or comment on them.


6. The Kyrgyz legislation shall regulate the procedure of providing air time to candidates and political parties on the channels of TV and radio companies, if they fall under item 19 of Article 22 hereof.


7. TV and radio companies, regardless of the form of ownership, who have provided air time to candidates or political parties, must provide air time to other candidates or political parties on the same terms and conditions (the same fee, time of broadcast, duration and other terms).


8. Election commissions shall establish the order, volume and time of TV and radio broadcast for campaigning purposes as agreed with management of TV and radio companies and shall distribute the abovementioned between candidates and political parties on an equal basis.