Media Presentation

(1) The Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Media Services is obligated to monitor the electoral media presentation and program service of broadcasters, from the day of the announcement of elections until the end of the voting on Election Day.

(2) As of the day of the announcement of the elections, the Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Media Services shall submit weekly reports to the State Election Commission, and during the election campaign, it shall submit daily reports and publish them on the Agency’s website.

(3) The Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Media Services shall initiate a misdemeanour procedure in front of a competent court against the broadcaster that has violated the provisions of this Code within 48 hours from the establishment of the violation of provisions.

(4) The competent court is required to decide upon the request for a misdemeanour procedure from paragraph (3) of this article within 48 hours from the day of the receipt of the request.

(5) The decision of the competent court can be appealed within 24 hours from the receipt of the decision.

(6) The second instance court is required to decide upon the appeal within 48 hours from the day of the receipt of the appeal.

(7) If the Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Media Services establishes a violation of the provisions for balanced media coverage by the public broadcasting service, it shall submit a proposal for instituting proceedings for the dismissal of the Director of the public broadcasting service.

(8) The Agency for Audio and Audio Visual Media Services shall adopt a Methodology for monitoring of the election media presentation via radio and TV programme services within 30 days from the day of the adoption of this Code during the electoral processes and it shall also be published on the website.