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Chapter VIII. FUNDING OF THE ELECTION Article 57. Funding of the Preparation and Conduct of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation 1. The expenditures incidental to the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, to the activities of election commissions during the period of their powers, to the use and operation of the automation facilities, to the legal education of voters and training of election officials shall be paid by the election commissions from the funds allocated for these purposes from the federal budget. The allocations to meet these expenditures shall be included in the federal budget in accordance with the budget classification of the Russian Federation and shall be remitted to the election commissions, the federal bodies of executive power in charge of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation, the military units (for the electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 5 and 6, Article 25 of this Federal Law) to the accounts opened by them at the institutions of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or, in the absence of such institutions, at the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. The chief manager of such allocations shall be the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (Clause 1 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. The funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be placed at the disposal of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in accordance with the approved budget schedule for the distribution of the expenditures of the federal budget, but not later than ten days after the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005). 3. In the event of an early or repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation the amount of funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election shall not be less than the sum contained in the report of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the expenditure of funds for the preparation and conduct of the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation (with due account for the change in the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law for the regulation of wage rates). (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4 – 5. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 6. Not later than 50 days before voting day the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall distribute the funds, which it received from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, between the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which shall distribute the received funds between the territorial election commissions not later than 30 days before voting day. The funds for the preparation and conduct of the election in electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 5 and 6, Article 25 of this Federal Law shall be distributed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation between the state bodies in charge of the registration of voters in these electoral precincts and also between the territorial election commissions formed in accordance with Clauses 2 and 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law, not later than 30 days before voting day. In the event of an early or repeat election and also if funding for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation is not provided in due time or in full the aforementioned election commissions shall distribute the funds as they become available. (Clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. The funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be managed by the chairmen of election commissions, who shall be responsible for compliance of the financial documents with the decisions taken by election commissions on financial matters and for submission of the reports on the expenditure of these funds in due time and in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law. 8. Not later than 60 days after a report on the expenditure of the funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and the information about the sums received to and expended from the electoral funds are submitted to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the allocations which were not expended by election commissions shall be transferred to the federal budget and shall be used in accordance with the established procedure for the purposes provided for by the budget legislation of the Russian Federation. (Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9. Repealed. –Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005 The provisions of Article 58 as amended by Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006 shall not apply to legal relationships arising in connection with the conduct of elections announced before the day of the entry into force of the said Federal Law (Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006). Article 58. Electoral Funds of Candidates 1. Candidate shall be obliged to establish their own electoral funds. 2. Electoral funds of candidates may be formed only by the use of the following financial resources: 1) a candidate's own money in the amount not exceeding 10 percent of the maximum limit on all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, and for candidates on whom a repeat vote is announced – not exceeding 15 percent; 2) the sums allocated to a candidate by the political party which nominated him, which shall not exceed 50 percent of the maximum limit on all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3) voluntary donations of individuals and legal entities in the amount not exceeding, respectively, 1.5 percent and 7 percent of the maximum limit on all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, for each individual, each legal entity. 3. The maximum limit on all expenditures of a candidate from his electoral fund shall not exceed 400 million rubles. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. The maximum limit of all expenditures of a candidate on whom a repeat vote was announced shall not exceed 500 million rubles. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 6. No donations to electoral funds of candidates shall be allowed from: 1) foreign states and foreign organizations; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2) foreign nationals; 3) stateless persons; 4) citizens of the Russian Federation under 18 years of age as of voting day; 5) Russian legal entities with foreign participation if such foreign participation accounts for more than 30 percent of the charter (pool) capital of these legal entities as of the date of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation (for open joint–stock companies – as of the date of the list of persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting of the shareholders for the preceding financial year); (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 6) international organizations and international public movements; 7) bodies of state power, other state bodies and bodies of local self-government; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8) state and municipal institutions and organizations, state and municipal unitary enterprises; (Sub–Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9) legal entities with a charter (pool) capital in which the stake (contribution) of the Russian Federation, a subject of the Russian Federation and/or a municipality exceeds 30 percent thereof as of the date of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation (for open joint–stock companies – as of the date of the list of persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting of the shareholders for the preceding financial year); (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 10) organizations established by the state bodies and/or bodies of local self-government (with the exception of joint-stock companies established by way of privatization); organizations established by the legal entities mentioned in Sub–Clauses 5 and 9 of this clause; organizations with a charter (pool) capital in which the stake (contribution) of the legal entities mentioned in Sub–Clauses 5 and 9 of this clause exceeds 30 percent thereof as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation (for open joint-stock companies - as of the date of the list of persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting of the shareholders for the preceding financial year); (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 11) military units, military institutions and organizations and law enforcement bodies; 12) charitable organizations and religious associations as well as organizations established by them; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 13) anonymous donors. "Anonymous donor" means a citizen who has not indicated or indicated incorrectly any of the following data in the donation payment document: the surname, first name and patronymic, residence address; a legal entity which has not indicated or indicated incorrectly any of the following data in the donation payment document: the taxpayer's identification number, corporate name, bank details; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 14) legal entities registered less than a year before voting day; 15) non-profit organizations if, during a year preceding the day of the payment of the donation to an electoral fund, they received sums of money or other property from: foreign states and bodies, organizations or natural persons mentioned in Sub–Clauses 1 – 4, 6 – 8, 11 – 14 of this clause; Russian legal entities with foreign participation if such foreign participation accounts for more than 30 percent of the charter (pool) capital of these legal entities as of the date of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation (for open joint–stock companies – as of the date of the list of the persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting of the shareholders for the preceding financial year); legal entities with a charter (pool) capital in which the stake (contribution) of the Russian Federation, a subject of the Russian Federation and/or a municipality exceeded 30 percent thereof as of the day on which these sums or other property was transferred (for open joint-stock companies – as of the date of the list of persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting for the preceding financial year); organizations established by state bodies and/or bodies of local self-government (with the exception of joint-stock companies established by way of privatization); organizations established by the legal entities mentioned in the third and fourth paragraphs of this sub–clause; organizations with a charter (pool) capital in which the stake (contribution) of the legal entities mentioned in the third and fourth paragraphs of this sub–clause exceeded 30 percent thereof as of the day on which these sums or other property was transferred (for open joint-stock companies – as of the date of the list of persons entitled to participate in the annual general meeting of the shareholders for the preceding financial year); (Sub–Clause 15 was added by Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 6.1. The non-profit organizations mentioned in Sub–Clause 15, Clause 6 of this article shall not be allowed to make donations to electoral funds of candidates only if the sums of money or other property received by these non-profit organizations were not returned by them to the foreign states, bodies, organizations or natural persons, mentioned in the second – seventh paragraphs of Sub–Clause 15, Clause 6 of this article, which gave them these sums of money or other property (or, if these sums of money or this property could not be returned, they were not transferred to the budget of the Russian Federation) before the day of payment of a donation to an electoral fund. (Clause 6.1 was added by Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 7. The right to manage the resources of the electoral fund shall be exercised by the candidate who formed the fund. The resources of the electoral fund shall be used only for the purposes for which the electoral fund is formed, namely: 1) funding of organizational-technical arrangements for collection of voter signatures in support of the nomination of the candidate, including labor remuneration of persons employed for collection of voter signatures; 2) election campaigning and payment for informational and consultative services; 3) payment for other kinds of services rendered by citizens and legal entities of the Russian Federation and payment of other expenses directly related to the conduct of the election campaign by the candidate. 8. A candidate shall not use any sums of money other than the sums received to his electoral fund to make payments for the services connected with his election campaign. A candidate may use only those sums which were remitted by payers to the special electoral account of the candidate's electoral fund before voting day in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law. 9. In the event of additional nomination of candidates under the circumstances mentioned in Clause 6, Article 39 and in Clause 5, Article 44 of this Federal Law the maximum limit on all expenditures from the electoral fund of candidates registered earlier shall be increased 1.5 times. 10. If a citizen who is a candidate for the office of President of the Russian Federation is simultaneously nominated as a candidate in some other election held on the territory of the federal electoral district and is obliged to form other electoral funds apart from the electoral fund mentioned in Clause 1 of this article, the maximum limit on all expenditures from these funds shall be the maximum limit indicated in this Federal Law, other federal laws, the law of a subject of the Russian Federation. This citizen shall be obliged to notify the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in writing about the special electoral accounts opened by him. Article 59. Authorized Representatives of Candidates for Financial Matters 1. A candidate shall be obliged to appoint authorized representatives for financial matters. A candidate's authorized representative for financial matters shall act on the basis of a notarized power of attorney, which is to be granted by the candidate and which shall indicate the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, series, number and date of issue of the passport or an equivalent document, residence address, powers of the authorized representative for financial matters of the candidate and shall show an imprint of a seal for financial documents. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. A candidate shall grant the following powers to the authorized representative for financial matters appointed by him: 1) opening of a special electoral account; 2) management of the resources of the electoral fund; 3) maintenance of accounting records for the resources of the electoral fund; 4) control over the sums received to and expended from the electoral fund; 5) right of signature on payment documents. 3. A candidate may grant his authorized representative for financial matters other powers in addition to those mentioned in Clause 2 of this article. 4. The authorized representative of a candidate for financial matters shall be registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the basis of the candidate's application and a power of attorney mentioned in Clause 1 of this article upon production of the passport or an equivalent identity document by the authorized representative for financial matters. The period of powers of a candidate's authorized representative for financial matters shall commence from the day on which this authorized representative is registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and expire 90 days after voting day, or, if judicial proceedings are being conducted with the participation of the given candidate in accordance with this Federal Law – from the date on which the court hands down the final decision. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. A candidate may at any time terminate the powers of his representative for financial matters by notifying the representative to this effect in writing and submitting a written application to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation together with a statement indicating the person who is to exercise the powers of the recalled authorized representative for financial matters. At the same time, the copies of the application and the statement shall be delivered by the candidate to the appropriate branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. 6. The new authorized representative for financial matters of a candidate shall be registered in accordance with the procedure established by Clause 4 of this article. Article 60. Special Electoral Account 1. A candidate shall open a special electoral account for the formation of his electoral fund before the day on which the documents required for the registration of the candidate are submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 2. A special electoral account for the formation of an electoral fund shall be opened with a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. 3. A candidate may open only one special electoral account for the formation of his electoral fund. 4. A special electoral account of a candidate shall be opened after the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation registers authorized representatives of the political party which nominated the candidate, authorized representatives of the group of voters, the authorized representative of the candidate for financial matters, on the basis of a document issued by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation simultaneously with the registration of the authorized representative of the candidate for financial matters. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. After presentation of documents required under and executed in accordance with this Federal Law a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, without delay, open a special electoral account for a candidate. No fee shall be paid for the bank's services in opening and servicing an electoral account and the bank shall pay no interest on the money kept in the special electoral account. All sums shall be credited to a special electoral account in the Russian Federation currency. 6. All financial operations via a special electoral account, save the return of unspent sums to the electoral fund and crediting of sums remitted before voting day to this account, shall be discontinued on voting day. Financial operations connected with the payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of candidates who have not submitted registration documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law or whose registration has been refused or who have withdrawn the statement expressing the consent to run or have withdrawn their candidatures or have been recalled by the political party or whose registration has been cancelled or annulled shall be discontinued by the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation on the instruction of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 7. The responsibility for violation of the procedure established by this Federal Law for a candidate to finance his election campaign shall be borne by the candidate personally. 8. In the event of a repeat vote financial operations involving payment of expenses from the special electoral accounts of registered candidates on whom the repeat vote is to be held shall be resumed after the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation sets the day for the repeat vote, and shall be discontinued on the day of the repeat vote. 9. Based on a candidate's application, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may extend the period for the performance of financial operations connected with the payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, purchased) before the date on which financial operations via the special electoral account were to be discontinued (suspended). (Clause 9 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 10. A candidate shall close his special electoral account before the day on which he submits a final financial report. (Clause 10 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. The procedure for opening, maintaining and closing special electoral accounts shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation with the concurrence of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. (Clause 11 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 61. Voluntary Donations to Electoral Funds of Candidate s 1. Voluntary donations to the electoral fund of a candidate shall be made by citizens of the Russian Federation from their own funds and shall be paid by them personally to post offices or credit institutions upon production of the passport or an equivalent identity document. When making a voluntary donation the citizen shall indicate the following information about himself in the payment document: the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, residence address, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document, citizenship. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. Voluntary donations of legal entities to the electoral fund of a candidate shall be made by means of non-cash transfers to the special electoral account. When making a voluntary donation the legal entity shall indicate the following information about itself in the payment order: the taxpayer's identification number, date of the registration, bank details, absence of restrictions stipulated by Clause 6, Article 58 of this Federal Law. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. Voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities shall be remitted (credited) to the special electoral account of a candidate by post offices and credit institutions not later than the next operating day after receipt of the payment order. A non-cash payment shall be processed in not more than two operating days within any subject of the Russian Federation and five operating days within the Russian Federation. 4. A candidate may return any donation, with the exception of anonymous ones, to donors. If a voluntary donation was paid into the electoral fund of a candidate by a citizen or legal entity, who/which are not allowed to make such donations or in violation of the requirements of Clauses 1 and 2 of this article or in an amount exceeding the maximum limit on such donation established by Article 58 of this Federal Law, a candidate shall, within ten days after the donation was received to his special electoral account, return to the donor the full donation or its part by which it exceeds the established maximum limit on donations (minus postage), indicating the reasons for the return. A candidate shall not be held responsible for acceptance of donations from donors who/which falsified the data required under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, if the candidate was not informed in due time of the inadmissibility of these donations. (Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Within ten days after anonymous donations were received to the special electoral account, a candidate shall transfer these donations to the federal budget. 6. Citizens and legal entities may render financial support to a candidate only through the candidate’s electoral fund. Expenditure of any sums with the aim of achieving a definite result in the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall not be allowed if these sums have not been paid to a candidate's electoral fund. No paid work shall be performed, goods sold, paid services provided, if they are directly or indirectly related to the election of the President of the Russian Federation and aimed at achieving a definite result in the election, without documentary confirmation of the consent of a candidate or his authorized representative for financial matters and without appropriate payment made from the electoral fund of the candidate. Settlements between a candidate and legal entities for such performance of work (provision of services), such sale of goods shall be effected only on a non–cash basis. (Clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. Legal entities, their branches, representative offices and other divisions shall not, free of charge or at unreasonably low (high) rates, perform any work (provide any services) directly or indirectly related to the election of the President of the Russian Federation and aimed at achieving a definite result in the election. Material support intended for achieving a definite result in the election may be provided to a candidate only if such support is paid for from the candidate's electoral fund. (Clause 7 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8. A citizen may, voluntarily and free of charge, perform work (provide services) for a candidate in the course of the election campaign without involvement of third persons. (Clause 8 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 62. Electoral Fund Reporting. Publication of Information about Consolidated Financial Reports of Political Parties 1. Candidates shall keep accounting records for the sums received to and expended from their electoral funds. The rules and forms of the accounting to be maintained and the reports to be filed by candidates in respect of the sums received to and expended from the electoral funds shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (Clause 1 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. Candidates shall file the financial reports with the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation at the following times: 1) the first financial report – simultaneously with the submission of the registration documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law; the report shall be drawn up as of the date not more than five days before the filing date; 2) Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 3) the final financial report – not later than 30 days after the official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. The following documents shall be appended to the final financial report: the primary financial documents confirming receipt of sums to and expenditure of sums from the special electoral account of a candidate; the information about the account balance and/or closure of the account; the materials mentioned in Clause 3, Article 55 of this Federal Law. The list of primary financial documents to be appended to the final financial report of a candidate shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (Sub–Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. If a candidate has forfeited his status, the obligation to submit the final financial report shall be borne by the citizen who was a candidate. 4. A candidate running for election in several electoral districts in different elections shall submit copies of his financial reports for each electoral district, where he stands for election, to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, at the time established for submission of financial reports by this Federal Law, other federal laws, the law of a subject of the Russian Federation. 5. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall furnish copies of financial reports of candidates to the mass media and shall publish these reports in the Internet within five days of the receipt of the reports. The state print media shall be obliged to publish the financial reports, received from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, within three days of their receipt. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 6. At least once a week and, within a period of less than ten days before voting day, at least once every three operating days, the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall furnish the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation with the information concerning the sums credited to and withdrawn from the special electoral accounts, in accordance with the forms established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. In this case, use may be made of SAS "Vybory." Periodically, but at least once every two weeks up to voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall furnish the information concerning sums contributed to and expended from the electoral funds to the mass media for publication. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall disclose the information about the sums contributed to and expended from the electoral funds, which it received from the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, to candidates and to the mass media upon their official requests. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. Upon the request of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and, for an electoral fund of a candidate also upon the request of a candidate the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, within three days or, during three days before voting day - immediately, furnish certified copies of primary financial documents confirming receipt of sums to and their expenditure from electoral funds. 8. The state print media shall be obliged to publish the information about the sums received to and expended from the electoral funds, released by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The following information shall be subject to mandatory publication: 1) all financial operations which involve expenditure of sums from an electoral fund in an amount exceeding 200 thousand rubles; 2) legal entities which made voluntary donations to any electoral fund in an amount exceeding 400 thousand rubles; 3) the number of citizens who made voluntary donations to an electoral fund in an amount exceeding 40 thousand rubles; 4) sums returned to donors and the reasons for the return; 5) the total amount of money received to an electoral fund and the total amount of money expended therefrom. The provisions of Clause 9 of Article 62 as amended by Federal Law No. 274–FZ of December 30, 2006 shall not apply to legal relationships arising in connection with the conduct of elections announced before the day of the entry into force of the said Federal Law (Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006). 9. Within five days of receipt of an appropriate request from an election commission, the bodies in charge or the registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay and residence within the Russian Federation, the bodies of executive power in charge of the state registration of legal entities or authorized to register non-profit organizations shall, free of charge, verify the information indicated by citizens and legal entities when they were making voluntary donations to electoral funds of candidates and shall inform the given election commission of the results of such verification. This information shall be submitted in accordance with the forms established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. In this case, use may be made of SAS “Vybory.” Upon the request of candidates, their authorized representatives for financial matters an election commission shall, without delay, furnish them with the information which it has received as of the date of the request. If an election commission receives information about voluntary donations made in violation of the requirements of Clause 6, Article 58 of this Federal Law, this information shall be promptly made known by the election commission to the candidates concerned or to their authorized representatives for financial matters. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 274-FZ of December 30, 2006) 10. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 11. The information from the consolidated financial reports of political parties which nominated registered candidates and the results of verification of these reports shall be published in the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005). 12. It shall not be necessary to submit copies of consolidated financial reports and publish information contained in these reports and the results of verification of consolidated financial reports of the political parties which participated in the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation if the decision to call this election was officially published less than one year before the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation. Article 63. Return of Money by Candidates, Political Parties (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 1. Prior to filing the final financial report, a candidate shall return unexpended sums of his electoral fund to citizens and legal entities who/which made voluntary donations to his electoral fund, in proportion to the contributed amounts (less postal charges). 2. After the expiration of 60 days from voting day, the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, on the written instruction of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, transfer the sums remaining in special electoral accounts to the federal budget. 3. A political party, which nominated a candidate who received less than 2 percent of the total number of votes cast according to the vote returns and did not participate in a repeat vote, which recalled its candidate without compelling circumstances, which nominated a candidate who withdrew his candidature without compelling circumstances or whose registration was cancelled, shall fully compensate the state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the state print media for the cost of free air time and free print space provided to them. Payment of the cost of free air time, free print space shall be made from the political party's own funds. (Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3.1. The obligations of candidates, political parties set forth in Clauses 1 and 3 of this article shall arise from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (Clause 3.1 was added Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. Within three days of the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall submit to the state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the state print media the list of the political parties falling within Clause 3 of this article, together with their legal addresses. (Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Within ten days of the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the state print media shall inform each political party falling within Clause 3 of this article about the amount and cost of free air time and free print space, which were provided to them, and about the legal addresses and bank details of these organizations and print media.. (Clause 5 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 6. The cost of free air time and free print space shall be determined by multiplying the amount of air time and print space, provided to political parties in accordance with Clause 5, Article 52 and Clause 5, Article 53 of this Federal Law, by the rates charged for air time and print space, as fixed and published by the TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the print media in accordance with Clause 9, Article 51 of this Federal Law. If free air time was used for participation in joint campaigning events, the sums to be paid by each political party falling within Clause 3 of this article shall be determined by the state TV and radio broadcasting organizations in equal parts in proportion to the total number of the participants (political parties) in each of these joint campaigning events for which free air time was provided to a political party. The cost of the provided free air time and print space shall not be paid if a political party officially refused to use such air time and print space in accordance with the procedure and at the time specified by Clause 18, Article 52 and Clause 11, Article 53 of this Federal Law. (Clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. A political party which falls within Clause 3 of this article may compensate the state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the state print media for the cost of the provided free air time and free print space within 12 months of the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, unless a longer period is specified in the contract for provision of free air time, free print space concluded by such political party with the state TV and radio broadcasting organization, the state print media outlet. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 8. If political parties default in the obligations under the contract mentioned in Clause 7 of this article, the state TV and radio broadcasting organization, the state print media outlet may recover the cost of free air time, free print space through a court. (Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005). 10. Not later than 13 months from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the national state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the national state print media shall inform the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation about the political parties falling within Clause 3 of this article, which failed to make full payment for the cost of the provided free air time and free print space, and about the recovery of the outstanding amounts through a court. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. Within 10 days of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the national state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the national state pint media shall furnish the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation with the information about the sums owed to them by the political parties falling within Clause 2.1, Article 51 of this Federal Law and the information about the recovery of such outstanding sums through a court. (Clause 11 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 12. Based on the information furnished in accordance with Clause 11 of this article the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall make up the list of political parties falling within Clause 2.1, Article 51 of this Federal Law. This list shall be furnished to the mass media. (Clause 12 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005). Article 64. Funding of Election Commissions 1. The funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, support of the activity of election commissions, operation and development of automation facilities, training of election officials and legal education of voters shall be used by election commissions at their discretion for the purposes established by this Federal Law. 2. Allocations from the federal budget shall be used to finance the expenditures of election commissions incidental to: 1) Repealed. – Federal No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 2) additional labor remuneration for voting members and the staff of election commissions; payment of the compensation to voting members of election commissions relieved from their main job for the period of the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation; payments to citizens who work in election commissions under civil–law contracts and to specialists assigned to the control–audit services of election commissions; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3) production of printed materials and publishing activity; 4) acquisition, delivery and installation of the equipment (including technological equipment), other tangible assets required for the conduct of the election and the exercise of their powers by election commissions; 5) payment of travel expenses, including expenses on the organization of voting in hard-to-reach and remote areas; 6) delivery and safekeeping of electoral documents, their preparation for the transfer to archives and their disposal; 7) development of the electoral system, including introduction of new election technologies, automation facilities, legal education of voters and election officials, implementation of target programs; 8) business trips and other purposes connected with the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, support of the powers and activity of election commissions. 3. Additional labor remuneration may be paid to voting members of an election commission for the service on the election commission during the period of the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. A voting member of an election commission relieved from the main job for the said period upon the commission's request shall retain his main job (position) and shall be paid compensation for the period during which he was relieved from the main job. Such compensation and additional labor remuneration shall be paid from and within the limits of the federal budget funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, in the amount and in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 4. Labor remuneration of voting members of an election commission working on a permanent (staff) basis and of members of the staff of an election commission shall be paid within the limits of funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, in the amount and according to the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. The procedure for opening and servicing of bank accounts, the accounting and reporting procedures, the procedure for the remittance of federal budget funds allocated from the federal budget to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and other election commissions for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be established in accordance with the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum." The banks shall not charge any fee for opening and servicing accounts of election commissions and shall not pay any interest on the funds kept therein. Election commissions shall keep accounting records to record the expenditure of funds allocated to them from the federal budget. 6. The forms of reports of election commissions on the receipt and expenditure of funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation with the concurrence with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 7. A precinct election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds, allocated to the given precinct election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, to a higher–level territorial election commission not later than 10 days after voting day (after a repeat vote, if such vote is held). A territorial election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds, allocated to the given territorial election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election, to the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation not later than 20 days after voting day (after a repeat vote, if such vote is conducted). 8. The election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds, allocated to the given election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 50 days after the day of the official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. 9. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall submit a report on the expenditure of federal budget funds and the information about the sums, received to and expended from the electoral funds of candidates, to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and shall release this report and this information to the mass media not later than three months after the day of the official publication of the general results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. This report and this information shall be published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in its official organ and in the Internet not later than one month after their submission to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Article 65. Control–Audit Services of Election Commission s 1. Control–audit services shall be organized in the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation to exercise control over the proper use of the funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation; monitor the sources of contributions to the electoral funds; make arrangements for keeping records of the resources of these funds and their use; audit financial reports of candidates; make arrangements for verifying the information presented by candidates about their income and property and the sources thereof. 2. The control–audit service shall consist of the head of the control–audit service; deputy head(s); members of the given election commission appointed to work in the control–audit service; specialists – executives and specialists from the law enforcement, financial and other bodies and organizations, including the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, the regional branch (national bank) of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in the given subject of the Russian Federation. Upon the request of the relevant election commission these bodies shall, not later than a month after the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of the Russian Federation, assign specialists to the election commission for a period of not less than five months. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. For the period of their work in the control-audit service the specialists mentioned in Clause 2 of this article shall be relieved from their main job but shall keep this job (position) and continue to receive the salary and other allowances at the place of their main employment. These specialists may also be paid remuneration from the funds allocated from the state budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. . 4. The regulations of the control-audit service shall be approved by the relevant election commission. The organizational, legal and logistical support of the control-audit service shall be provided by the election commission. 5. Upon the request of an election commission its control-audit service shall: 1) audit the financial reports of candidates, lower-level election commissions; 2) request information concerning all matters within the scope of its competence and receive this information from candidates, election commissions; 3) verify information submitted by candidates about their property, income and the sources thereof, their monetary deposits, securities, shares of stock and other forms of participation in the capital of commercial organizations, their property located outside the territory of the Russian Federation, including the property placed under trust management, other property liabilities; 4) check compliance with the established procedure for funding election campaigning activities, other activities directly related to the election campaign of candidates; 5) apply to federal bodies of executive power, other bodies of state power, other state bodies, organizations of all forms of ownership and also to citizens on all matters within the scope of its competence; request the necessary information and documents relating to the funding of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. A response to applications of the control-audit service shall be given and the requested materials provided within ten days or, five and less days before voting day and on voting day, immediately; 6) document financial irregularities in the funding of the election of the President of the Russian Federation; 7) request election commissions to call to account candidates, citizens and legal entities for the infractions committed by them in funding the election campaign of candidates; 8) engage experts for the performance of audits and for the preparation of reports and expert opinions; 6. When exercising its powers the control–audit service may use SAS "Vybory." (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) |