The Procedure of Electronic (Audiovisual) Mass Media Use
1. Television and radio broadcasting organizations of all forms of ownership should publish their prices for one minute (second) of airtime in printed media no later than 110 days before Election Day. Television organizations that broadcast on national television channels shall publish such information in the Holos Ukrainy and the Uryadovyi Kuryer newspapers: regional and local broadcasting organizations — in respective regional and local printed mass media of state and municipal ownership..
2. Airtime for campaigning at the expense and within limits of funds of state budget of Ukraine, allocated for preparation and conduct of elections, shall be provided by state and municipal broadcasting organizations between 7.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m.
3. Broadcasting hours (broadcasting schedule) of television and radio broadcasting organizations, which have licenses of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting on use of national broadcasting channels, shall be changed (without alteration of the broadcasting volume) for the period of distribution of programs of campaigning at the expense of allocations from state budget of Ukraine for preparation and conduct of elections during election period for the purpose to allow regional state (municipal) television and radio broadcasting organizations to broadcast their programs in respective regions.
4. Television and radio broadcasting organizations shall provide each party (bloc) — a subject of election process - with airtime for campaigning at the expense and within limits of allocations from state budget of Ukraine for preparation and conduct of elections, in the total volume not less than 60 minutes at a national television channel and 60 minutes at a national radio channel; and also 20 minutes at regional television channels and 20 minutes at regional radio channels in each region of Ukraine. This time shall be given to a party (bloc) at each of the mentioned channels in two equal parts of total allocated airtime.
5. It is prohibited to comment on the content of the election program, give any information on the party (bloc), candidates, nominated by a party (bloc), within 20 minutes before and after television and radio broadcasting of television and radio campaign program of a party (bloc).
6. Preliminary schedule of broadcasting of television and radio campaign programs with indication of dates and time of broadcasting (without indication of exact program participants) shall be compiled by national and regional television and radio broadcasting organizations of state and municipal form of ownership, with which agreements on distribution of election campaigning materials of parties (blocs) at the expense and within limits of allocations from state budget of Ukraine for preparation and conduct of elections, during election period. This schedule should be sent to the Central Election Commission or a district election commission, respectively, no later than 57 days before Election Day.
7. Order of granting radio and television broadcasting organizations air time to parties (blocs) — subjects of the election process within the limits of a schedule as stipulated by paragraph 6 of this Article, shall be determined by casting lots by the Central Election Commission, one of district election commissions in each of regions of Ukraine upon the decision of the Central Election Commission, respectively, with participation of respective representatives of parties (blocs) with the Central Election Commission or authorized persons by parties (blocs).
8. Results of casting lots that is conducted under the procedure stipulated by paragraph 7 of this Article and schedule of airtime distribution compiled basing on the results of casting lots, with indication of campaigning materials television and radio programs, exact dates and time of broadcasting at the expense of allocations of state budget of Ukraine for preparation and conduct of elections, shall be published in the Holos Ukrainy and Uryadovyi Kuryer, respectively, in local printed mass media of state and municipal form of ownership within three days after approval thereof by the Central Election Commission or a respective district election commission.
9. The Central Election Commission and respective district election commission shall pay for airtime granted in accordance with budgets approved by them within the limit of allocations from state budget of Ukraine for preparation and conduct of elections, and upon respective agreements between the Central Election Commission and the National Television Company of Ukraine, the National Radio Company of Ukraine; and agreements between respective district election commissions and regional television and radio broadcasting organizations of state and municipal from of ownership.
10. Airtime at the expense of a party’s (bloc’s) election fund shall be granted on the basis of an agreement between an administrator of a current account of the a party’s (bloc’s) election fund on behalf of the party (bloc) and television and radio broadcasting organization of any form of ownership. It is prohibited to grant such airtime without such agreement and funds being transferred to an account of the television and radio broadcasting company.
11. Television and radio broadcasting organizations should make audio and video records of all programs containing election campaigning, and store them until the expiration of the 30-day term after promulgation of elections results.
12. Television and radio broadcasting organizations of all forms of ownership should provide all information on allocation of airtime for election campaigning to parties (blocs) upon written requests of the Central Election Commission, the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, and if required —copies of the respective agreements, payment documents and programs recorded on tape and other information carriers.
