Restrictions for election campaigns

(title amended by HO-119-N of 30 June 2016, edited by HO-318-N of 4 May 2018)

1. It shall be prohibited to conduct an election campaign, disseminate any type of campaign material, the use of premises, means of transport and communication, material and human resources provided for performing official responsibilities for election campaign purposes shall be prohibited, except for security measures applicable in respect of high-ranking officials subject to state protection under the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On ensuring the safety of persons subject to special state protection” for the above-mentioned:

(1) public servants, workers of healthcare or medical organisations, educational institutions, pre-school educational institutions - when performing their powers or acting ex officio;
(2) the employees of State institutions or organisations, community institutions or organisations, organisations with 20 or more participation of state or local self-government bodies in statutory capital - when performing their official duties or acting ex officio;
(3) judges, prosecutors, officers of investigation bodies, the Police, National Security Service, penitentiary institutions, Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service, Probation Service, Rescue Service, military servants;
(4) members of electoral commissions;
(5) charitable and religious organisations, international organisations;
(6) foreign citizens and organisations, persons not holding citizenship, except for the persons provided for by point 3 of part 2 of Article 2 of this Code;
(7) Human Rights Defender;
(8) Board members of the Central Bank;
(9) members the Audit Chamber;
(10) members of Commission on Television and Radio;
(11) members of autonomous bodies.

2. Deputies of the National Assembly and Heads of Communities elected directly by electors and members of the Council of Elders shall not be prohibited to conduct election campaign or disseminate campaign materials, excluding the usage of the administrative resources referred to in part 1 of this Article.
3. Candidates who are public servants, candidates included in the electoral list of the political party running in elections shall carry out the election campaign taking into account the following restrictions:

(1) direct or indirect appeals to vote for or against a candidate, a political party running in elections while performing official powers or any abuse of the official position to gain advantage during elections shall be prohibited;
(2) use of financial and informational measures, premises, means of transport and communication, material and human resources provided for performing official responsibilities for election campaign purposes shall be prohibited, except for security measures applicable in respect of high-ranking officials subject to state protection under the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On ensuring the safety of persons subject to special state protection”.

3. Where coverage of other activities of a candidate referred to in part 3 of this Article, who is included in the electoral list of the political parties running in elections is carried out, the mass media carrying out terrestrial on-air broadcasting shall consider this when covering the activities of other candidates, political parties running in elections, in order to comply with the non-discriminatory principle of equality of coverage prescribed by Article 20 of this Code.
(Article 23 amended by HO-119-N of 30 June 2016, edited by HO-318-N of 4 May 2018)