General Procedure for Using Mass Media

1. Election campaigning through mass media shall be conducted with due observance of the principle of equal opportunities and under the procedure prescribed by this Code.

2. Election campaigning through mass media paid for out of the electoral funds of candidates or parties (party organizations) that are electoral subjects shall be conducted on conditions of equal pay for a unit of printed space or airtime and shall be restricted only by the limit of expenses allowed to be incurred at the expense of the electoral fund.

3. Each mass media organization shall set the price per unit of printed space or airtime to be used for election campaigning at the expense of electoral funds no later than on the first day of the election process of the respective election. Moreover, mass media shall be entitled to calculate separate rates per unit of printed space or airtime for business days and days off and holidays as well as for periods of airtime or printed space types differing in the size of the potential audience.

Prices per unit of printed space and airtime for conducting election campaigning shall not be changed during the election process. A mass media outlet shall not be allowed to grant discounts to an individual candidate or party (party organizations) that are electoral subjects.

4. A mass media outlet that has provided airtime or printed space for election campaigning for one candidate or party (party organization) that are electoral subjects, shall not refuse to provide airtime or printed space on the same terms to another candidate or party (party organization). This requirement shall not apply to mass media, the founders (owners) of which are parties (party organizations) that are electoral subjects.