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Article 65
 

1. The total air time which each of nation-wide state-owned TV and radio broadcaster provides on each of its channels for election campaign to political parties which registered their federal lists of candidates shall be not less than one hour on working days during the period specified in part 2 of Article 63 of this Federal Law.


2. The total air time which each of the regional state-owned TV and radio broadcasters provides on each of its channels shall be not less than half an hour daily on working days during the period specified in part 2 of Article 63 of this Federal Law. In the event the total air time of the broadcaster is less than two hours daily, not less than one quarter of its total air time.


3. In the conduct of by-elections of deputies of the State Duma of the total amount of airtime that each of the regional state TV and radio broadcasting organization provides free on each of its channels for registered candidates for election campaigning must be at least 10 minutes during working days within the period established by Part 2 of Article 63 of this Federal law.


4. If as a result of donations of air time on any channel, the radio channel for each political party, each registered candidate will have 60 minutes of air time, the total amount of airtime, provided in accordance with this Article respective broadcasting organization, is reduced and shall be:


1) All-Russian non-state television and radio broadcasting organizations - 60 minutes, multiplied by the number of political parties;


2) to the regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations - 60 minutes multiplied by the sum of the number of political parties and the number of candidates registered in single-mandate electoral district, formed on the territory of the relevant subject of the Russian Federation.


5. Half of the total amount of free airtime provided by the regional state TV and radio broadcasting organization assigned for election campaigning by political parties, the other half - for election campaigning registered candidates.


6. Airtime provided free of charge, should fall on the respective broadcasting organization defined period, when TV and radio programs attract the largest audience.


7. Airtime provided free of charge, is given for discussions, "round tables" and other joint campaigning events (hereinafter - the joint campaign activities) and (or) for placement of election campaign materials of political parties and registered candidates. A political party, registered candidate shall be entitled not later than 35 days before voting day to give up airtime in full or by air time provided to conduct joint campaign activities, or from the air time provided for the placement of election campaign materials, including some channels by notifying in writing according to the CEC, the election commission of the Russian Federation. This failure results in a corresponding decrease in the volume of airtime provided by TV and radio broadcasting organization in accordance with part 1 of this article.


8. At least half of the total amount of free of charge airtime t, assigned to carry out joint promotional activities. This rule does not apply to the provision of airtime donated to political parties if the specified amount of airtime missing for at least one joint campaigning event in which each political party, registered federal list of candidates will have five minutes or more, as well as the provision of essential free time candidates registered in the single-member electoral district, if the specified volume of air time for lack of at least one joint campaigning event, which will have five or more minutes for each candidate. The joint campaign activities on channels of regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations are held separately between political parties and between the registered candidates. The subject of the Russian Federation on the territory of which is formed by more than one single-mandate electoral district, joint campaign activities are conducted or separately between candidates registered for each single-mandate electoral district, or between candidates registered for various single-member electoral districts, with the opportunity to participate in each joint campaigning the event must be given to all registered according to the electoral district candidates. In case of failure of a political party, registered candidate in the order established in part 7 of this Article, to participate in joint campaigning events amount of airtime provided by TV and radio broadcasting organization to carry out joint promotional activities is reduced by the proportion, relying of the political party, the registered candidate.


9. The joint campaign event held on the channel nationwide or regional public broadcasting organization within the air time provided free of charge for political parties, involved persons authorized political parties or their respective regional offices. In a joint campaigning event, held on the channel the regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations within the airtime provided free of charge to registered candidates, the candidates shall be involved personally.


10. Dates and time of the broadcast of joint campaigning events on the channels of national and regional public broadcasting organizations are determined by the drawing of lots provided by part 14 of this article.


11. A political party or candidate has the right to refuse to participate in a joint campaigning event after the draw, but not later than five days before the joint campaigning events, and if the join campaign event should take place in less than five days from the date of the draw - in the draw date of written notification of the respective broadcasting organizations. In this case, the part of air time for this political party or candidate shall be reduced.


12. In the event of refusal of a political party or candidate to participate in a joint campaigning event later than the date specified in part 11 of this Article, including, if the result of such a refusal, only one participant can take part in the respective joint campaigning event, essential time, provided for a joint campaigning event shall not be reduced.


13. The airtime provided free of charge for placement of campaign materials of political parties and candidates shall be distributed (if available), respectively, among all political parties, all registered candidates equally.


14. In view of distributing free air time for broadcasting joint campaign events and campaign materials the CEC, the election commission of entity subject of the Russian Federation shall organize a draw after the completion of registration of federal lists of candidates not later than thirty days prior to the voting day. The draw for the allocation of free airtime provided by the regional state TV and radio broadcasting organization, which has a license to broadcast in the territory of the municipal district, several municipal areas and (or) city district, can be carried out on behalf of the Russian Federation of the election commission of the respective TEC election commissions, DEC, which carries out the drawing of lots, determined by the decision of the election commission of the Russian Federation. The lot-drawing may be witnessed by the persons mentioned in part 1 of Article 32 of this Federal law. As a result of the draw, held by the CEC with the participation of representatives of the national state broadcasting organizations, determined the date and time of the airing of the joint campaign events and election campaign materials of political parties. As a result of the draw organized by the election commission of a Russian Federation subject, DEC with attendance of representatives of respective regional state-owned broadcasters the date and time of broadcasting of joint campaign events and campaign materials of regional groups of candidates, candidates shall be defined. The results of the lot-drawing shall be documented in protocols.


15. On the basis of the protocol referred to in part 14 of this Article, a schedule of distribution of free air time shall be approved by the decision of the relevant election commission and published respectively in national and regional state print media.


16. State TV and radio broadcasting organization shall reserve paid air time for election campaigning of political parties and candidates. The total amount of paid airtime, reserved by each nationwide broadcasting organization may not be less than the total amount of air time provided free of charge, but should not exceed it more than two times. The total amount of paid air time reserved by each regional broadcasting organization may not be less than the total amount of air time provided free of charge, but should not exceed it more than four times.


17. Every political party shall have the right to get airtime for a charge from the total amount by reserved nationwide broadcasting public organization in the amount not less than number obtained by dividing the total amount of reserved airtime by the total number of political parties. Each political party is entitled for a fee to get air time from the total amount reserved by regional public broadcasting organizations in the amount not less than the number obtained by dividing the half of the total amount of reserved airtime by the total number of political parties. Each registered candidate shall be entitled for a fee to get air time from the total amount in the amount not less than the number obtained by dividing the remaining half of the total reserved regional state broadcasting organization airtime by the total number of candidates.


18. Paid airtime provided public broadcasting organization in the period established by part 2 of Article 63 of this federal law. Dates and time of joint campaign events are determined in accordance with the draw, which holds by broadcasting organizations with the participation of interested stockholders on the basis of written applications for participation in the draw submitted by the authorized representatives of political parties and candidates. The draw is carried out within the period specified in part 14 of this Article.


19. Municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations, on the conditions specified by part 14 of Article 64 of this Federal Law shall provide the political parties and candidates with paid air time for election campaigning. The total amount of airtime determines by the municipal organization of broadcasting. Dates and time of the broadcast of joint campaign activities and of each political party, each registered candidate shall be determined in accordance with the draw, which holds by the municipal organization of broadcasting with stakeholders on the basis of written applications for participation in the draw submitted by the authorized representatives of political parties and candidates. The draw is carried out within the period specified in part 14 of this Article.


20. Should a political party, registered candidate refuse to use their free or paid air time, they shall within five days prior to the date of broadcasting or, if the draw takes place less than five day prior to the date of broadcasting, on the day of draw, file a written notice thereof to a respective broadcasting organization which shall be entitled to use the time thus released at its own discretion.


21. In the event undistributed air time should remain as a result of distribution of paid air time in accordance with part 18 or 19 of this Article or as a result of refusal of a political party or candidate, of use of its air time in accordance with part 20 of this Article, this air time may be offered for a charge to political parties which applied for such air time. The remaining air time shall be distributed among the said political parties on equal terms by means of draw.


22. Non-state-owned broadcasting organizations, provided the conditions set forth in part 14 of Article 64 of this Federal Law have been fulfilled, shall be obliged to offer air time for election campaign to political parties and registered candidates on equal terms. In the event non-state-owned broadcasting organizations should fail to fulfil the requirements set forth in part 14 of Article 57 of this Federal Law, they shall not be entitled to offer political parties and registered candidates air time for election campaign.


23. The contract for paid air time shall stipulate the following conditions: the type (form) of campaign, date and time of broadcasting of campaign materials, the length thereof, amount and order of payment, the way and conditions of involvement of a journalist (moderator) in the TV or radio program. After the contract obligations have been fulfilled, the Statement of Fulfilment shall be signed and the specification of the program and time of broadcasting shall be appended thereto.


24. Not later the day before the provision of air time an authorized financial agent of a political party, a regional branch of a political party shall submit a payment order to a public joint-stock company "Sberbank of Russia" (other credit institution) to wire the full amount of payment for the air time. An authorized financial agent of a political party or candidate, of a regional branch of a political party shall present a copy of the payment order endorsed by the branch of Sberbank (Savings Bank of the Russian Federation) to a TV and radio broadcasting organization before provision of air time. If these terms and conditions for the provision of air time are not complied with, air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall not be provided.


25. The branch of public joint-stock company "Sberbank of Russia" (other credit institution) shall wire the money not later than the next banking day after receipt of the payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed 3 banking days from the day of transaction of money from a special electoral account of political party, its regional chapter or candidate.


26. If, while using paid air time, a political party or a regional group, or candidates violate the terms and conditions stipulated by this Federal Law, a broadcasting organization may apply to a court for cancellation of the contract for the provision of air time.


27. Broadcasting of a campaign material shall not be interrupted; neither shall it be interrupted by commercials.


28. Overlaying (substitution) of campaign materials with other TV or radio programs, other campaign materials shall be prohibited.


29. Video and audio records of the aired campaign materials shall be kept in a respective broadcasting organization within no less than twelve months of the day of official publication of notice of elections of deputies of the State Duma.