Political Finance Database

Russian Federation

Russian Federation

2018
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 30 - "(3) Political party and its regional branches are not allowed to receive donations from: a) foreign governments and foreign entities; b) foreign nationals;"

Source: Article 30 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 11 - "(1) Implementation of the activities of promoting or hindering the preparation and conduct of elections, the nomination, registration of a candidate, the federal list of candidates and election of candidates for deputies of the State Duma, as well as participation in the election campaign in other forms by foreign citizens, stateless persons, foreign organizations, international organizations and international public movements, non-profit organizations that perform functions of a foreign agent, is not allowed."

Source: Article 11 (1), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 11 - "(1) Participation of foreign citizens, stateless persons, foreign organizations, international organizations and international public movements, non-profit organizations performing functions of a foreign agent in carrying out activities, facilitating or impeding the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Russian Federation, nomination, registration and election of one or another candidate, as well as participation in the election campaign in other forms shall not be permitted."

Source: Article 11 (1), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

Ban applies to Russian legal entities with foreign participation, or state participation, or Russian legal entities registered less than a year prior to the payment of the donation. 

Source

Art. 30 - "(3) Political party and its regional branches are not allowed to receive donations from: ... e) Russian legal entities with foreign participation, if the share (contribution) of foreign participation in their authorized (share) capital exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); ... i) legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subject of the Russian Federation and (or) the municipalities exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); ... n) legal entities registered for less than one year prior to the date of the donation as well as from non-profit organizations that perform functions of a foreign agent;"

Source: Article 30 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

Both during the Parliamentary and Presidential elections the corporate donations are prohibited from:

  • Russian legal entities with foreign participation, if the share (contribution) of foreign participation in their authorized (share) capital exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year);
  • legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subject of the Russian Federation and (or) the municipalities exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year);
  • legal entities registered for less than one year prior to the date of the donation ...;"
Source

Source: Article 71 (10), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Source: Article 58 (6), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
Code
No
Comment

No information found in sources.

6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
Code
No data
Comment

No information found in sources.

7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 30 - "(3) Political party and its regional branches are not allowed to receive donations from: ... m) anonymous donators. As anonymous donator is understood a citizen who has not stated in a payment document for donation any of the following information: name, surname and patronymic, place of residence - or have stated inaccurate information, or a legal entity the donation payment document of which does not indicate any of the following information: taxpayer identification number, name, bank account - or false information is stated;"

Source: Article 30 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

The ban applies both in case of Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

Source

For Parliamentary elections:

Art. 73 - "(1) Voluntary donations of citizens to electoral funds shall be done through a postal office or a bank in person out of their own means by presenting a passport or an equivalent identity document. The following information shall be specified in the payment document: the citizen’s last name, first name and patronymic, date of birth, residence address, passport number or the number of an equivalent identity document, citizenship. Voluntary donations of legal entities to electoral funds shall be made by a bank wire transfer to a special electoral account. The payment order for donations shall specify the following information: the entity’s individual tax-payer number (INN), title, date of registration, banking details, note of lack of restrictions imposed in paragraph 6 of Article 58 of the Federal law "On Basic Guarantees”. ...

(5) Donations to electoral funds made by anonymous donors shall within ten days of receipt of such donations be transferred to the state budget."

Source: Article 73 (1) and (5), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

For Presidential elections:

Art. 61 - "(1) Voluntary contributions to a candidate’s election fund by citizens may be made through a post office, credit institution or personally by the citizen of the Russian Federation from his own funds upon presentation of a passport of a citizen or a substituting document. When making a voluntary contribution, the citizen specifies in the payment document the following personal information: surname, first name, patronymic name, date of birth, address of the place of residence, series and number of the passport of a citizen or a substituting document, nationality.

(2) Voluntary contributions to the candidate’s election fund by legal entities shall be made in a cashless form by transferring funds to the special election account. When making voluntary contribution by a legal entity the payment document shall specify the following information: identification number of a taxpayer, name, registration date, bank details; a note on the absence of restrictions provided for in clause 6 of Article 58 of this Federal Law shall be made.

(5) Contributions made by anonymous contributors shall be transferred by the candidate to the federal budget within ten days of the receipt thereof to the special election fund."

Source: Article 61 (1), (2) and (5), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
No
Comment

Although the list of (legal) entities that are banned to donate to political parties is large, it doesn't contain any reference to corporations with government contracts.

Source

Art. 30 - "3. Political party and its regional branches are not allowed to receive donations from: ... e) Russian legal entities with foreign participation, if the share (contribution) of foreign participation in their authorized (share) capital exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); ... j) legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subject of the Russian Federation and (or) the municipalities exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); i.1) organizations established by governmental bodies and (or) local governments (except for joint-stock companies established in the manner of privatization), organizations, legal entities mentioned in subparagraphs "e" and "i" herein, as well as from organizations in the authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of legal entities referred to in subparagraphs "e" and "i" of this paragraph exceeds 30 percent as at the day of the donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); ... n) legal entities registered for less than one year prior to the date of the donation; ..."

Source: Article 30 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
No
Source

Art. 71 - "10. The list of agencies, organizations and individuals who are not allowed to make donations to the election funds established by paragraph 6 of Article 58 of the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees".

Source: Articles 62 (7) and 71 (10), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 58 - "6. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates, election associations to referendum funds shall be allowed from: ... g) bodies of state power, other state bodies and bodies of local self-government; h) state and municipal institutions, states and municipal unitary enterprises; i) legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation and (or) municipal formations exceeds 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call elections, as of the day of commencement of referendum campaign (for open joint stock companies – as of the date of preparation of the list of shareholders entitled to participate in the annual general meeting for the previous financial year); j) organizations established by state and (or) local self-government bodies (except joint stock companies, established as the result of privatization);..."

Source: Federal law on “Basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in a referendum”, 2002

11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 30 - "3. Political party and its regional branches are not allowed to receive donations from:  ... g) state government bodies, other government authorities, local governments; h) state and municipal institutions, state and municipal unitary enterprises; j) legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subject of the Russian Federation and (or) the municipalities exceeds 30 percent as at the day of donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); i.1) organizations established by governmental bodies and (or) local governments (except for joint-stock companies established in the manner of privatization), organizations, legal entities mentioned in subparagraphs "e" and "i" herein, as well as from organizations in the authorized (share) capital of which the share (contribution) of legal entities referred to in subparagraphs "e" and "i" of this paragraph exceeds 30 percent as at the day of the donation (for open joint-stock companies – at the date of making the list of persons eligible to participate in annual general meeting of shareholders for the previous financial year); ..."

Source: Article 30 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 71 - "10. The list of agencies, organizations and individuals who are not allowed to make donations to the election funds established by paragraph 6 of Article 58 of the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees".

Source: Articles 62 (7) and 71 (10), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 58 - "6. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, registered candidates, election associations to referendum funds shall be allowed from: ... g) bodies of state power, other state bodies and bodies of local self-government; h) state and municipal institutions, states and municipal unitary enterprises; i) legal entities in authorized (share) capital of which share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation and (or) municipal formations exceeds 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call elections, as of the day of commencement of referendum campaign (for open joint stock companies – as of the date of preparation of the list of shareholders entitled to participate in the annual general meeting for the previous financial year); j) organizations established by state and (or) local self-government bodies (except joint stock companies, established as the result of privatization);..."

Source: Federal law on “Basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in a referendum”, 2002

13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 10 - "3. Persons holding state or municipal offices and individuals in state or municipal service shall not take advantage of their office or official position to benefit a political party to which they belong, or in the interests of any other political party. Aforementioned persons except for the deputies of State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, other deputies of legislative (representative) state government bodies and deputies of representative bodies of municipalities, can not be bound by decisions of a political party in performance of their official duties."

Source: Article 10 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment

There are three kind of limits: on donations by a legal entity, by a natural person, and on the total amount of donations (all annually).

Source

Art. 30 - "(8) Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one legal entity during a calendar year shall not exceed forty-three million three hundred thousand rubles. Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one individual during a calendar year shall not exceed four million three hundred thirty thousand rubles.

(9) The total amount of annual donations received by political party and its regional branches shall not exceed four billion three hundred thirty million rubles. Whereby, the sum of annual donations received by the regional branch of political party shall not exceed eighty-six million six hundred thousand rubles".

Source: Article 30 (8) and (9), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?
Code
Forty-three million three hundred thousand rubles (approx. 582,260 EUR)- from a legal entity; Four million three hundred thirty thousand rubles (approx. 58,235 EUR) - from an individual.
Source

Art. 30 - "(8) Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one legal entity during a calendar year shall not exceed forty-three million three hundred thousand rubles. Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one individual during a calendar year shall not exceed four million three hundred thirty thousand rubles".

Source: Article 30 (8), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source

Source: Article 71 (2 to 5), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?
Code
For political parties which nominated a federal list of candidates, the limits for donations are set at 0.07% for individuals and 3.5% for legal entities, calculated from the limit of maximum allowed expenses, as provided by the federal law; For regional branches of political parties in a subject of the Russian Federation, the limits for donations are set at 2% for individuals and 20% for legal entities, calculated from the limit of maximum allowed expenses from electoral funds of regional chapters of political parties, as provided by the federal law.
Source

Art. 71 – “(2) Electoral funds of political parties shall be created exclusively at the expense of: … 2) donations of citizens and legal entities; such donations for each citizen and legal entity shall not exceed respectively 0.07 and 3.5 per cent of the maximum allowed expenses by this Federal Law;

(4) Electoral funds of regional chapters of political parties shall be created exclusively at the expense of: … 2) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities; such donations for each citizen and legal entity shall not exceed respectively 2 and 20 per cent of the maximum allowed expenses by this Federal Law from electoral funds of regional chapters of political parties;"

Source: Article 71 (2) and (4), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source

Source: Article 71 (8 to 9), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Source: Article 58 (2 to 3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
For single-mandate candidates at the Parliamentary elections, the limits for donations are set at 2% for individuals and 20% for legal entities, calculated from the limit of maximum allowed expenses, as provided by the federal law; For Presidential candidates, the limits for donations are set at 1.5% for individuals and 7% for legal entities, calculated from the limit of maximum allowed expenses out of the candidate’s electoral fund, as provided by the federal law.
Source

Art. 71 - "(8) Candidates’ electoral funds can be established only at the expenses of: … 3) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities; such donations for each citizen and legal entity shall not exceed respectively 2 and 20 per cent of the maximum allowed expenses by this Federal Law for candidate funds; (9) The maximum sum of all expenses from candidates’ electoral funds shall not exceed 40 million RUB.”

Source: Article 71 (8 to 9), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

For Presidential elections:

Art. 58 – “(2) Electoral funds of candidates may be formed exclusively out of the sources as follows: ... 3) voluntary donations of persons and legal entities, not exceeding 1.5 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the maximum limit on all the expenses out of the candidate’s electoral fund, as established in accordance with this Federal Law, per citizen or legal entity.

(3) The maximum limit of a candidate’s total expenses out of his electoral fund shall not exceed 400 million rubles.”

Source: Article 58 (2 to 3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
Code
Yes, specific limit for candidates
Comment

Given the mixed electoral system for the Parliamentary elections, there are limits on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign, both for the political parties which nominated a federal list of candidates, regional branches of political parties in a subject of the Russian Federation as well as for individual candidates running in single-mandate electoral districts.

Source

For Parliamentary elections:

Art. 71 – “(8) Candidate electoral funds can be established only at the expenses of: … 2) internal funds of candidate; such funds shall sum up to no more than fifty per cent of the maximum allowed expenses by this Federal Law from candidates’ funds. (9) The maximum sum of all expenses from candidates’ electoral funds shall not exceed 40 million RUB.”

Source: Article 71 (8) and (9), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

For Presidential elections:

Art. 58 – “(2) Electoral funds of candidates may be formed exclusively out of the sources as follows: 1) candidate’s own funds not exceeding 10 percent of the maximum limit on all the expenses out of the candidate’s electoral fund, as established in accordance with this Federal Law, or 15 percent for the candidates taking part in the repeat voting; … (3) The maximum limit of a candidate’s total expenses out of his electoral fund shall not exceed 400 million rubles.”

Source: Article 58 (2 to 3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

Although there are no explicit limits on in-kind donations to political parties, the request to asses them in monetary terms (see art. 30 (7) of the federal law) suggest that the general limits for donations should apply also for in-kind contributions. 

Source

Art. 30 - "(1) Political party and its regional branches may accept donations of cash and other property from natural and legal persons, provided that such donations and source thereof to have been documented. ...

(7) In case of donation not in the form of cash, a political party or its regional branch shall assess it in terms of money in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation and record relevant data including information about the donators specified in clauses 5 and 6 of this Article, in the consolidated financial statement of a political party, the financial (accounting) report of a political party or in the financial (accounting) report of the regional branch of political party.

(8) Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one legal entity during a calendar year shall not exceed forty-three million three hundred thousand rubles. Donations received by political party, including its regional branches, from one individual during a calendar year shall not exceed four million three hundred thirty thousand rubles."

Source: Article 30 (1), (7) and (8), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
Code
No
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 29 - "(1) Funds of political party are formed by: ... d) proceeds from events organized by political party, its regional branches and other structural units, as well as income from business activities;"

Art. 31 - "(3) In order to provide for financial and material conditions for the realization of aims and objectives stipulated in charter and program of political party, political party, its regional branches and other structural units may conduct the following types of business activities:

a) information, advertising, publishing and printing activities to promote their beliefs, aims, objectives and to publicize the results of its activity;

b) manufacture and sale of souvenirs with symbols and (or) the name of political party as well as manufacture and sale of publishing and printing products;

c) sale and lease of political party own movable and real property."

Source: Articles 29 (1) and 31 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
Sometimes
Source

Art. 29 - "(3) The political party and its regional branches (unless otherwise provided by the Charter of the political party) have the right to enter into loan agreements with individuals and legal entities, credit agreements with legal entities.

During the calendar year, the total amount by which the political party and its regional branches may conclude loan agreements with one individual shall not exceed five times the amount of donations received from one individual during the calendar year established by paragraph 8 of article 30 of this Federal law.

During the calendar year, the total amount by which the political party and its regional branches may enter into loan agreements, credit agreements with one legal entity shall not exceed five times the amount of donations received from one individual during the calendar year established by paragraph 8 of article 30 of this Federal law.

In case the termination of obligations under the specified agreements occurs not as a result of performance or imposing of obligations on other creditor, the provisions regarding donations to political party and its regional offices, including requirements about return of the donation, provided by article 30 of this Federal law, shall extend to the amount of not performed obligations."

Source: Article 29 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
Yes
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
Code
No data
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?
Code
Sometimes
Source

Art. 30 - "2. Donations to political party and its regional branches in form of cash shall be made by wire transfer. It is permitted to accept donations from individuals through the transfer of cash to a political party and its regional branches. The total amount of annual donations of cash from one individual shall not exceed four thousand three hundred and thirty rubles."

Source: Article 30 (2), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

Art. 73 - "1. Voluntary donations of citizens to electoral funds shall be done through a postal office or a bank in person out of their own means by presenting a passport or an equivalent identity document. The following information shall be specified in the payment document: the citizen’s last name, first name and patronymic, date of birth, residence address, passport number or the number of an equivalent identity document, citizenship. Voluntary donations of legal entities to electoral funds shall be made by a bank wire transfer to a special electoral account. The payment order for donations shall specify the following information: the entity’s individual tax-payer number (INN), title, date of registration, banking details, note of lack of restrictions imposed in paragraph 6 of Article 58 of the Federal law "On Basic Guarantees”.

Source: Article 73 (1), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
Code
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
Comment

Regularly (annualy) provided public funding based on the results from Parliamentary elections and as a lump sum in relation to campaign results, based on the outcomes of Presidential elections.

Source

Art. 33 - "(1) State support for political parties through their state funding is based on results of participation of political parties in elections in order to compensate for the financial costs incurred by political parties at the expense of federal funds in the manner stipulated by this Federal law."

Source: Article 33 (1), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Share of votes in previous election
Source

Art. 33 - "(5) Political parties are entitled to receive funds from the federal budget in one of the following cases: a) If according to results of elections the federal list of candidates nominated by political parties for elections of deputies of the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation has received not lesser than 3 percent of electors’ votes to have been participating in voting for the federal electoral district; c) If according to results of elections the registered candidate for the post of the President of Russian Federation nominated by political party has not lesser than 3 percent of electors' votes to have been participating in voting."

Source: Article 33 (5), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Flat rate by votes received
Source

Art. 33 - "(6) State funding of political parties participating in elections and subject to clause 5 of this Article shall be:

a) based on results of elections of deputies of the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation – in amount of one hundred fifty two rubles multiplied by the number of votes received by the federal list of candidates nominated by political party per year;

b) based on results of elections of the President of Russian Federation – non-recurrent in amount of twenty rubbles multiplied by the number of votes received by registered candidate for the post of the President of Russian Federation nominated by political party;"

Source: Article 33 (6), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
Realize the objectives and to attain the goals provided in the charter and program of a political party.
Source

Art. 28 - "(3) Property of a political party shall be used only to implement aims and objectives of the charter and program of a political party."

Source: Article 28 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

There are provisions for free air time for political parties in the campaign for President of the Russian Federation and for Members of the Russian Parliament.

Source

Art. 64 - "(1) Air time on TV and radio channels and space in print media may be made available (offered) to political parties which registered federal lists of candidates, to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts (hereinafter - political parties, registered candidates)for a fee (paid airtime, paid print space), and in cases and in the procedure established by this Federal Law free of charge (free air time, free space)"

Art. 66 - "(1) Political parties are entitled to free print space in, respectively, nation-wide stateowned print periodicals, which published with a periodicity of less than once a week, on the following conditions: offered print space shall have the same amount, place in the column, the same font size and other equal conditions.

(2) Political parties, registered candidates are entitled to have free print space in, respectively, regional-wide state-owned print periodicals, which published with a periodicity of less than once a week. Half of the total amount of print space provided to the editorship of the regional state print media, is given for election campaigning by political parties, the other half - for election campaigning candidates registered in single-mandate electoral district, formed on the territory of the relevant subject of the Russian Federation. Space shall be provided on the following conditions: an equal volume of print space shall be provided, an equivalent place on the strip, the same font size and other equal conditions for political parties, respectively, for the registered candidates."

Source: Articles 64 (1), 66 (1) and (2), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 51 - "(2) Free air time and free printable area shall also be made available to political parties that nominated registered candidates, in accordance the procedure established by this Federal Law. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

(2.1) No free air time and no free printable area shall be provided to: 1) a political party that nominated a registered candidate if the candidate nominated by that political party at the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation obtained less than 2 percent of all the votes given during the election; 2) a political party that nominated a registered candidate if such political party is a successor of the political party that nominated a candidate at the previous election of the President of the Russian Federation and the specified candidate obtained less than 2 percent of all the votes given during the election; 3) a registered candidate nominated by the political party as specified in Subclause 1 or 2 of this Clause."

Art. 52 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions (as to the air time duration, broadcasting time and other terms and conditions). The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions."

Art. 53 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on the terms and conditions as follows: the equal printable area, the same location on the page, the same font size, etc. The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on equal terms and conditions."

Source: Articles 51 (2 - 2.1), 52 (1) and 53 (1) Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Equal
Source

Art. 64 - "(5) State-owned and municipal TV and radio broadcasters and print media outlets shall be obliged to ensure political parties have equal terms and conditions for campaign and, in particular, for the presentation of their election programs to voters."

Art. 64 - "(13) In case of provision of airtime, print space, services for placement of campaign materials in online publications, the terms of payment shall be equal for all political parties and registered candidates. ..."

Art. 65 - "(13) The airtime provided free of charge for placement of campaign materials of political parties and candidates shall be distributed (if available), respectively, among all political parties, all registered candidates equally."

Art. 66 - "(1) Political parties are entitled to free print space in, respectively, nation-wide stateowned print periodicals, which published with a periodicity of less than once a week, on the following conditions: offered print space shall have the same amount, place in the column, the same font size and other equal conditions.

(2) Political parties, registered candidates are entitled to have free print space in, respectively, regional-wide state-owned print periodicals, which published with a periodicity of less than once a week. Half of the total amount of print space provided to the editorship of the regional state print media, is given for election campaigning by political parties, the other half - for election campaigning candidates registered in single-mandate electoral district, formed on the territory of the relevant subject of the Russian Federation. Space shall be provided on the following conditions: an equal volume of print space shall be provided, an equivalent place on the strip, the same font size and other equal conditions for political parties, respectively, for the registered candidates."

Source: Article 64 (5), 64 (13), 65 (13) and 66 (1) and (2), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 8 - "(4) Equal rights in respect to access to the mass media shall be guaranteed to the registered candidates for holding the election canvassing."

Art. 51 - "(5) State-owned and municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations as well as offices of state-owned and municipal printed periodicals shall guarantee equal election campaigning terms and conditions to all registered candidates and political parties that nominated registered candidates, including those concerning presentation of their election programs to voters."

Art. 52 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions (as to the air time duration, broadcasting time and other terms and conditions). The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions."

Art. 53 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on the terms and conditions as follows: the equal printable area, the same location on the page, the same font size, etc. The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on equal terms and conditions."

Source: Articles 8 (4), 51 (5), 52 (1) and 53 (1) Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 64 - "(1) Air time on TV and radio channels and space in print media may be made available (offered) to political parties which registered federal lists of candidates, to candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts (hereinafter - political parties, registered candidates)for a fee (paid airtime, paid print space), and in cases and in the procedure established by this Federal Law free of charge (free air time, free space)"

Art. 66 - "(2) Political parties, registered candidates are entitled to have free print space in, respectively, regional-wide state-owned print periodicals, which published with a periodicity of less than once a week. Half of the total amount of print space provided to the editorship of the regional state print media, is given for election campaigning by political parties, the other half - for election campaigning candidates registered in single-mandate electoral district, formed on the territory of the relevant subject of the Russian Federation. Space shall be provided on the following conditions: an equal volume of print space shall be provided, an equivalent place on the strip, the same font size and other equal conditions for political parties, respectively, for the registered candidates."

Source: Articles 64 (1), 66 (2), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 52 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions (as to the air time duration, broadcasting time and other terms and conditions). The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free air time on the channels of state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations on equal terms and conditions."

Art. 53 - "(1) Registered candidates, except for the candidates as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on the terms and conditions as follows: the equal printable area, the same location on the page, the same font size, etc. The political parties that nominated registered candidates, except for the political parties as specified in Clause 2.1 of Article 51 hereof, shall have the right to be provided with free printable area in the national state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency, on equal terms and conditions."

Source: Articles 52 (1) and 53 (1) Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
Yes
Comment

There are several type of indirect state support, including access to public premises and communications equipment.

Source

Art. 32 - (1) Federal authorities, organs of state power of Russian Federation and local selfgovernment support for equal political parties, their regional branches and other structural units by: a) To ensure equal conditions and guarantees access to government and municipal funds media; b) creating equal conditions for the provision of premises and communications equipment located in state and (or) municipal property, for conditions similar to their providing state and local government agencies; c) ensure equal conditions for participation in election campaigns, referendums, public and political events."

Source: Article 32 (1), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
Code
No
Comment

There are no provisions of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates.

37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
Code
No
Comment

There are no provisions for financial andvantages to encourage gender equality in political parties.

Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
Code
Yes
Comment

Vote buying is banned both in case of Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

Source

Art. 69 - "2. Political parties which nominated their federal lists of candidates, such candidates, proxies and authorized financial agents of political parties and authorized financial agents of regional branches of political parties as well as other persons and organizations involved in election campaigns shall not bribe voters: they shall not give voters money, gifts and other things otherwise than for the performance of organizational work, signature collection, participation in the conduct of election campaigning; remunerate voters who perform the said organizational work depending on the results of the vote or promise such remuneration; sell goods at reduced prices; distribute free of charge any goods other than promotional materials specially produced for the election campaign and the cost of which does not exceed 100 rubles per unit; render services free of charge or at reduced rates. While conducting election campaigning candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, their authorized representatives and agents or other persons and organizations shall not influence voters by promises of money, securities, other things (in particular, depending on the voting results) and by rendering of services other than on the basis of decisions of bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government adopted in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation."

Source: Article 69 (2), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 56 - "(2) When holding election campaigns, candidates, their agents and authorized representatives for financial issues, political parties, their agents and authorized representatives as well as any other persons and organizations shall be forbidden to bribe voters: give them any money, gifts and other material values save as in consideration for any organizational activities (collection of voter signatures, campaigning activities), provide or promise to provide voters with any compensation for their organizational activities subject to the results of voting, sell goods at lower prices, distribute any goods free of charge, except for printed materials (including illustrated ones) and badges produced for the purposes of election campaigning, as well as provide any services free of charge or at lower prices. When holding election campaigns, candidates, their agents and authorized representatives for financial issues, political parties, their agents and authorized representatives as well as any other persons and organizations shall not be entitled to affect voters by promising them any money, securities or other material values (including subject to the results of voting) or by providing any services to voters otherwise than on the basis of the resolutions passed by government bodies and local authorities in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation."

Source: Articles 56 (2), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment

Given the mixed electoral system for the Parliamentary elections, there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, both for the political parties which nominated a federal list of candidates, regional branches of political parties in a subject of the Russian Federation as well as for individual candidates running in single-mandate electoral districts. There is also a limit for the expenditures of a candidate for the Presidential elections.

Source

Source: Article 71 (3) and (5), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Source: Article 58 (3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Maximum 700 million RUB for a political party (for Parliamentary elections) and maximum 400 million RUB for a candidate running for the Presidential elections.
Source

Art. 71 – “(3) The maximum allowed expenses from the electoral fund of a political party shall not exceed 700 million RUB. This sum shall not include expenditures made by regional chapters of this political party from their own electoral funds. ...

(5) The maximum sum of all expenses from the electoral fund of a regional branch, in the federal list of which a regional group(s) corresponds to a subject(s) of the Russian Federation (corresponds to the all single-mandate electoral districts at the territory of this subject) including inside a group of subjects, shall not exceed:

1) 15 million RUB- in a subject of the Russian Federation where no more than 100 thousand registered voters reside;

2) 20 million RUB - in a subject of the Russian Federation where more than 100 thousand but fewer than 500 thousand registered voters reside;

3) 25 million RUB- in a subject of the Russian Federation where more than 500 thousand but fewer than 1 million registered voters reside;

4) 35 million RUB - in a subject of the Russian Federation where more than 1 million but fewer than 2 million registered voters reside;

5) 55 million RUB - in a subject of the Russian Federation where more than 2 million but fewer than 5 million registered voters reside;

6) 100 million RUB - in a subject of the Russian Federation where fewer than 5 million registered voters reside;

Source: Article 71 (3) and (5), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

For Presidential elections:

Art. 58 – “(3) The maximum limit of a candidate’s total expenses out of his electoral fund shall not exceed 400 million rubles.”

Source: Article 58 (3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment

Given the mixed electoral system for the Parliamentary elections, there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, both for the political parties which nominated a federal list of candidates, regional branches of political parties in a subject of the Russian Federation as well as for individual candidates running in single-mandate electoral districts. There is also a limit for the expenditures of a candidate for the Presidential elections.

Source

Source: Article 71 (9), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Source: Article 58 (3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Maximum 40 million RUB for an individual candidate running in single-mandate electoral district (for the Parliamentary elections) and maximum 400 million RUB for a candidate running for the Presidential elections.
Source

Art. 71 - "(9) The maximum sum of all expenses from candidates’ electoral funds shall not exceed 40 million RUB.”

Source: Article 71 (9), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 58 - "(3) The maximum limit of a candidate’s total expenses out of his electoral fund shall not exceed 400 million rubles.”

Source: Article 58 (3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
Code
Yes, third parties banned from campaign spending
Source

Art. 69 - "5. Political parties which nominated their federal lists of candidates, candidates, proxies, authorized agents (including authorized financial agents) of political parties and their regional branches as well as organizations founded after the commencement of the election campaign, if the said persons or political parties are founders, owners or members of bodies thereof, shall not engage in charity activities during the election campaign. Other individuals and legal entities shall not engage in charity activities during the election campaign at the request, at the direction or on behalf of the said political parties, candidates, proxies and authorized agents; neither shall they campaign during the charity activities. The said political parties, candidates, proxies and authorized agents shall not make proposals to other individuals or legal entities to provide material, financial aid or services to voters."

Art. 73 - "6. Citizens and legal entities shall be entitled to provide financial support to a political party exclusively through its electoral fund. It shall be prohibited to render paid services, do paid work or sell/purchase goods if such activities directly or indirectly pertain to elections of deputies of the State Duma and seek certain election results unless they are paid out of a respective electoral fund with a duly documented consent of an authorized financial agent of the political party, its regional chapter, candidate. No cash shall be used for the settlement of accounts between a political party, its regional branch and a legal entity for the said work (services), for the said goods.

7. Legal entities, their branches, representations or other subdivisions shall be prohibited to do work (render services) free of charge or at a price below (or above) normal pricing, if such work (services) directly or indirectly pertain to elections of deputies of the State Duma and seek certain election results. Material support to a political party, a candidate if seeking a certain election results, shall not be provided unless it is compensated for at the expense of a respective electoral fund."

Source: Articles 69 (5), 73 (6) and (7), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 56 - "5. Candidates, their agents and authorized representatives for financial issues, political parties, their agents and authorized representatives as well as any organizations registered upon commencement of the election campaign with the specified persons and/or political parties as their founders, owners and/or members of management bodies (or members of the bodies managing the affairs of organizations with the general meeting as the supreme management body) shall not be entitled to perform any charity work during the election campaign period. No other persons or legal entities shall be entitled to perform any charity work at the request, upon instruction or on behalf of the specified candidates, political parties, agents and authorized representatives, or engage in election campaigning and perform charity work at the same time. The specified candidates, political parties, agents and authorized representatives shall be forbidden to apply to any other persons and legal entities with an offer to provide material or financial support or services to voters."

Source: Articles 56 (5), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
Yes, for political parties Yes, for candidates
Comment

There are no exact limits established for spendings on traditional media advertising, but there are limits on the volume of airtime and space a political party/candidate may buy.

Source

Art. 65 - "16. State TV and radio broadcasting organization shall reserve paid air time for election campaigning of political parties and candidates. The total amount of paid airtime, reserved by each nationwide broadcasting organization may not be less than the total amount of air time provided free of charge, but should not exceed it more than two times. The total amount of paid air time reserved by each regional broadcasting organization may not be less than the total amount of air time provided free of charge, but should not exceed it more than four times. 

17. Every political party shall have the right to get airtime for a charge from the total amount by reserved nationwide broadcasting public organization in the amount not less than number obtained by dividing the total amount of reserved airtime by the total number of political parties. Each political party is entitled for a fee to get air time from the total amount reserved by regional public broadcasting organizations in the amount not less than the number obtained by dividing the half of the total amount of reserved airtime by the total number of political parties. Each registered candidate shall be entitled for a fee to get air time from the total amount in the amount not less than the number obtained by dividing the remaining half of the total reserved regional state broadcasting organization airtime by the total number of candidates."

Art. 66 - "7. The editorial offices of state-owned print media published with periodicity of no less than once a week shall reserve space for paid publications of campaign materials by political parties, registered candidates. The total amount of paid space to be reserved by the editorial office of a print media outlet shall not be less than the total space to be provided for free, but it should not exceed more than twice. The total amount paid print space, reserved each revision of the regional state print media shall not be less than the total amount of space provided free of charge, but should not exceed it by more than four times.
8. Each political party is entitled for a fee to obtain an area in the national state periodical print space in the amount not less than the share obtained by dividing the total amount of reserved space in print media by the total number of political parties. Each political party is entitled for a fee to obtain a printed area of the regional state print media in the amount not less than the share obtained by dividing the half of the total printed area reserved by the total number of political parties. Each registered candidate shall be entitled for a fee to obtain a printed area of the regional state print media in the amount not less than the share obtained by dividing the remaining half of the total amount of reserved space in print media by the total number of candidates registered in single-mandate electoral districts formed in the corresponding subject of the Russian Federation."

Source: Articles 65 (16), (17) and 66 (7), (8), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 52 - "14. The state-owned TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall reserve the air time for the registered candidates to hold their election campaigns, for payment. The rates and terms of payment shall be the same for all registered candidates. The total payable air time reserved by each TV and radio broadcasting organization shall not be less than the total air time made available under Clause 3 of this Article but it shall not exceed the same more than twice, either.

15. A registered candidate shall be entitled to receive his share of the reserved air time within the total reserved air time, as calculated by the division of the total reserved air time by the total number of the registered candidates, for the relevant payment. ..."

Art. 53 - "7. Offices of national and regional state-owned printed periodicals with at least once a week issue frequency shall reserve the printable area for the registered candidates to hold their election campaigns, for payment, during the period as established by Clauses 2 and 5, respectively, of Article 50 hereof. The rates and terms of payment shall be the same for all candidates. The total payable printable area reserved by each office of a national state-owned printed periodical shall not be less than the total free printable area made available under Clause 3 of this Article but it shall not exceed the same more than twice, either. The total weekly minimum of the payable printable area as reserved by each office of a regional state-owned printed periodical shall be at least 5 percent of the total weekly printable area of the relevant printed periodical during the period as established by Clauses 2 and 5, respectively, of Article 50 hereof.

8. Any registered candidate shall be entitled to receive his share of the reserved printable area within the total reserved printable area, as calculated by the division of the total reserved printable area by the total number of the registered candidates. ..."

Source: Articles 52 (14), (15) and 53 (7), (8), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 58 - "6. On voting day, before the end of voting in the territory of the Russian Federation, no information shall be published (made public) about the results of the elections and no such information shall be placed in the public information and telecommunication networks (including the Internet). This restriction does not apply to the dissemination of information by means of live video to be installed in rooms where counting of votes, in accordance with Part 15 of Article 78 of this Federal law."

Art. 60 - "3. Within five days before the voting day and on the voting day it shall be prohibited to publish (make public) opinion poll results, forecasts of election results at elections of deputies of the State Duma, other studies relating to the election, in particular in the public information and telecommunication networks (including the Internet)."

Source: Articles 58 (6), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 46 - "7. On the voting day, before the end of the voting procedure in the territory of the Russian Federation, no information shall be published (disclosed) about the results of the election and no such information shall be placed in any information and telecommunications networks with unlimited access (including the Internet)."

Art. 47 - "3. For five days before the voting day and on the voting day it shall be prohibited to publish (disclose) the results of any public opinion polls, forecasts of the election results or any other studies concerning the election of the President of the Russian Federation, including their publication in any information and telecommunications networks with unlimited access (including the Internet)."

Source: Articles 46 (7) and 47 (3), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

Quarterly and annualy.

Source

Art. 34 - "(3) A political party shall submit to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, and regional branch or other registered structural unit of political party - to the Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the territory of registration thereof - information on income and expenditure of political party funds. Such information shall be submitted on a quarterly basis not later than 30 days after the end of the quarter.

(4) A political party, annualy but not later than April 1 of the year following the reporting period, shall submit to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the consolidated financial report on income and expenditure for the year."

Source: Article 34(3) and (4), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 74 - "(2) Within 30 days of official publication of the general election results political party shall present to the CEC the final financial report. Following documents shall be appended to the final report: primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a political party, documents fixing the unspent money and (or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in part 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies.

(3) Within thirty days from the day of official publication of the general election results, a regional chapter of a political party, candidate (in case he/she established the electoral fund) shall present to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, DEC the final financial report. Appended to the final financial report shall be primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a regional chapter of political party, documents fixing the unspent money and(or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in Clause 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies."

Source: Article 74 (2) and (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 74 - "(3) Within thirty days from the day of official publication of the general election results, a regional chapter of a political party, candidate (in case he/she established the electoral fund) shall present to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, DEC the final financial report. Appended to the final financial report shall be primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a regional chapter of political party, documents fixing the unspent money and(or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in Clause 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies."

Source: Article 74 (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 62 - "(2) Candidates shall provide their financial statements to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation as follows: 1) the first financial statement — together with the submission of documents required for registration to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in the manner set forth in this Federal Law; information included in the report shall be valid if provided not earlier than five days prior to the date of submission of the report; ... 3) final financial statement — not later than in 30 days after official publication of the general results of elections of the President of the Russian Federation. The final financial statement shall be supported by primary documents confirming the receipt of funds to the special election account of the candidate and expenditure of these funds, statements of the account balance and/or of closing the above account and materials specified in clause 3 of Article 55 of this Federal Law. The list of primary documents attached to the candidate’s final financial statement shall be determined by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation."

Source: Article 62 (2), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
Code
Third parties are banned from participating in campaigns
Source

Art. 69 - "5. Political parties which nominated their federal lists of candidates, candidates, proxies, authorized agents (including authorized financial agents) of political parties and their regional branches as well as organizations founded after the commencement of the election campaign, if the said persons or political parties are founders, owners or members of bodies thereof, shall not engage in charity activities during the election campaign. Other individuals and legal entities shall not engage in charity activities during the election campaign at the request, at the direction or on behalf of the said political parties, candidates, proxies and authorized agents; neither shall they campaign during the charity activities. The said political parties, candidates, proxies and authorized agents shall not make proposals to other individuals or legal entities to provide material, financial aid or services to voters."

Art. 73 - "6. Citizens and legal entities shall be entitled to provide financial support to a political party exclusively through its electoral fund. It shall be prohibited to render paid services, do paid work or sell/purchase goods if such activities directly or indirectly pertain to elections of deputies of the State Duma and seek certain election results unless they are paid out of a respective electoral fund with a duly documented consent of an authorized financial agent of the political party, its regional chapter, candidate. No cash shall be used for the settlement of accounts between a political party, its regional branch and a legal entity for the said work (services), for the said goods.

7. Legal entities, their branches, representations or other subdivisions shall be prohibited to do work (render services) free of charge or at a price below (or above) normal pricing, if such work (services) directly or indirectly pertain to elections of deputies of the State Duma and seek certain election results. Material support to a political party, a candidate if seeking a certain election results, shall not be provided unless it is compensated for at the expense of a respective electoral fund."

Source: Articles 69 (5), 73 (6) and (7), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 56 - "5. Candidates, their agents and authorized representatives for financial issues, political parties, their agents and authorized representatives as well as any organizations registered upon commencement of the election campaign with the specified persons and/or political parties as their founders, owners and/or members of management bodies (or members of the bodies managing the affairs of organizations with the general meeting as the supreme management body) shall not be entitled to perform any charity work during the election campaign period. No other persons or legal entities shall be entitled to perform any charity work at the request, upon instruction or on behalf of the specified candidates, political parties, agents and authorized representatives, or engage in election campaigning and perform charity work at the same time. The specified candidates, political parties, agents and authorized representatives shall be forbidden to apply to any other persons and legal entities with an offer to provide material or financial support or services to voters."

Source: Articles 56 (5), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?
Code
Yes
Comment

The information is to be made public both for political parties in between elections as well as well as for political parties and candidates in relation to specific elections (Parliamentary and Presidential).

Source

Art. 35 - "(3) The consolidated financial statement of a political party shall be posted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation at its special website on the general public information & telecommunication network not later than two months after deliver of such statement by the political party. Information about the results of the audit of consolidated financial statement of political party shall be brought to the attention of the relevant political parties and posted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on aforementioned website, as well as published in Russian periodicals."

Source: Article 35 (3), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

Art. 74 - "(2) Within 30 days of official publication of the general election results political party shall present to the CEC the final financial report. Following documents shall be appended to the final report: primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a political party, documents fixing the unspent money and (or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in part 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies.

(3) Within thirty days from the day of official publication of the general election results, a regional chapter of a political party, candidate (in case he/she established the electoral fund) shall present to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, DEC the final financial report. Appended to the final financial report shall be primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a regional chapter of political party, documents fixing the unspent money and(or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in Clause 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies.

(7) Respective election commissions shall pass out copies of financial reports stipulated in parts 2 - 4 of this Article to the media for publication and place them on the Internet within five days of the receipt of the said documents. Within three days the nation-wide or regional print media outlets shall publish financial report supplied to them by, respectively, the CEC or the election commission of a Russian Federation subject, DEC."

Source: Article 74 (2), (3) and (7), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 62 - "(8) Government-owned newspapers are obliged to publish information on the receipt and expenditure of election funds transfmitted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The following information shall be subject to mandatory publication as well as posting on the official website of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation: 1) any financial operation which involves expenditure of sums from an election fund in an amount exceeding 200 thousand rubles; 2) legal entities which made voluntary contributions to the election fund in an amount exceeding 400 thousand rubles; 3) the number of citizens who made voluntary contributions to the election fund in an amount exceeding 40 thousand rubles; 4) sums returned to contributors and reasons for return; 5) the total amount of money received to the election fund and the total amount of money expended from the fund."

Source: Article 62 (8), Federal Law on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation, 2002

52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Yes
Comment

The list of primary financial documents appended to the final financial report of a political party, its regional branch, candidate shall be decided upon by the CEC. Accordingly, the CEC "Instruction on the order and forms of accounting and reporting of a political party, its regional branch on the receipt of funds in election funds and the expenditure of these funds during the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation" (Annex 10) establish that the payment orders on transfer of voluntary donations of citizens, legal entities shall be attached to the financial reports.

Source

Art. 73 - "1. Voluntary donations of citizens to electoral funds shall be done through a postal office or a bank in person out of their own means by presenting a passport or an equivalent identity document. The following information shall be specified in the payment document: the citizen’s last name, first name and patronymic, date of birth, residence address, passport number or the number of an equivalent identity document, citizenship. Voluntary donations of legal entities to electoral funds shall be made by a bank wire transfer to a special electoral account. The payment order for donations shall specify the following information: the entity’s individual tax-payer number (INN), title, date of registration, banking details, note of lack of restrictions imposed in paragraph 6 of Article 58 of the Federal law "On Basic Guarantees”.

Art. 74 - "2. Within 30 days of official publication of the general election results political party shall present to the CEC the final financial report. Following documents shall be appended to the final report: primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a political party, documents fixing the unspent money and (or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in part 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies. ... 5. The list of primary financial documents appended to the final financial report of a political party, its regional branch, candidate shall be decided upon by the CEC."

Source: Articles 73 (1) and 74 (2) and (5), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 74 - "2. Within 30 days of official publication of the general election results political party shall present to the CEC the final financial report. Following documents shall be appended to the final report: primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a political party, documents fixing the unspent money and (or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in part 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies.

3. Within thirty days from the day of official publication of the general election results, a regional chapter of a political party, candidate (in case he/she established the electoral fund) shall present to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, DEC the final financial report. Appended to the final financial report shall be primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a regional chapter of political party, documents fixing the unspent money and(or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in Clause 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies."

Source: Article 74 (2) and (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
Code
Yes
Source

Art. 74 - "2. Within 30 days of official publication of the general election results political party shall present to the CEC the final financial report. Following documents shall be appended to the final report: primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a political party, documents fixing the unspent money and (or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in part 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies.

3. Within thirty days from the day of official publication of the general election results, a regional chapter of a political party, candidate (in case he/she established the electoral fund) shall present to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, DEC the final financial report. Appended to the final financial report shall be primary financial documents confirming all receipts and expenditures of an electoral fund of a regional chapter of political party, documents fixing the unspent money and(or) confirming the closing of the said account as well as documents provided for in Clause 5 Article 68 of this Federal Law, or their copies."

Source: Article 74 (2) and (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?
Code
EMB
Source

Art. 34 - "(3) A political party shall submit to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, and regional branch or other registered structural unit of political party - to the Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the territory of registration thereof - information on income and expenditure of political party funds. Such information shall be submitted on a quarterly basis not later than 30 days after the end of the quarter.

(4) A political party, annualy but not later than April 1 of the year following the reporting period, shall submit to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the consolidated financial report on income and expenditure for the year."

Source: Article 34(3) and (4), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

 

56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • EMB
  • Other
Source

Art. 35 - "1. The consolidated financial statement of a political party is subject to audit by the Central Election Commission of Russian Federation. The financial (accounting) reports of political party, its regional branches and other registered structural units are subject to audit by the federal executive body authorized to exercise the functions of Control and Supervision on taxes and levies, and its territorial bodies.

2. The information on income and expenditure of funds of a political party, its regional branches and other registered structural subdivisions is subject to audit by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the election commission of the subject of Russian Federation, accordingly."

Source: Article 35 (1) and (2), Federal Law on Political Parties of the Russian Federation, 2001 (as of December 5, 2017)

Art. 60 - "1. For the purposes of supervision over proper spending of funds allocated to commissions for preparation and conduct of elections, a referendum, and over sources, proper accounting, and use of electoral funds, referendum funds, for auditing of financial documents of candidates, election associations, referendum initiative groups, for verification of information provided by candidates under Clause 3, Article 33 of this Federal Law about their property, income and sources thereof, for supervision over the return of budgetary funds allocated by relevant election commissions to electoral funds of candidates, election associations, supervisory and auditing services shall be established. 

2. Supervisory and auditing services shall be established under the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, and in cases provided by the law, under other commission with engagement of managers and experts from state and other bodies and institutions, including the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, main offices (national banks) of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in the subjects of the Russian Federation. ..."

Source: Article 60 (1) and (2), Federal law on “Basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in a referendum”, 2002

57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
Refer for investigation Request additional information from others
Source

Art. 25 - "5. Election commissions shall be entitled to solicit the law enforcement bodies to carry out an investigation and to stop a breach of this Federal Law, other federal laws in regard to the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the State Duma. The law enforcement bodies shall be obliged to undertake measures set forth by the law to stop the breach of law within five days, or no later than on the day preceding the voting day, if the solicitation was submitted five or fewer days before the voting day, or immediately, if the solicitation was submitted on the voting day or on the day preceding the voting day. In the event such solicitation should require an additional investigation the abovementioned measures should be undertaken within ten days. The law enforcement bodies shall immediately inform the election commission which solicited inquiry t on the results of the investigation and on the measures undertaken."

Art. 98 - "3. In case of violation by a political party or a candidate of this Federal Law, the Central Election Commission, the district election commission, within its competence shall be entitled to issue a warning to that political party, candidate, which shall be made known to the voters through the mass media or otherwise."

Source: Articles 25 (5) and 98 (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?
Code
Loss of nomination of candidate
Source

Art. 98 - "3. In case of violation by a political party or a candidate of this Federal Law, the Central Election Commission, the district election commission, within its competence shall be entitled to issue are warning to that political party, candidate, which shall be made known to the voters through the mass media or otherwise."

Source: Articles 98 (3), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 99 - "10. Registration of a federal list of candidates nominated by a political party may be cancelled by the Supreme Court upon application of the Central Election Commission or another political party whose federal list of candidates was registered, no later than five days before the voting day in the following cases:

1) newly discovered circumstances that constitute grounds for refusal to register a federal list of candidates according to paragraphs 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 or 14 of part 3 of Article 50 of this Federal Law. Circumstances shall be considered newly discovered if they existed at the time the decision to register the federal list of candidates was made, but were not and could not be known to the Central Election Commission;

2) repeated use by the head of the political party of the advantages of his office or official position;

3) established fact of bribery of voters by the political party, its proxy, authorized representative, including on financial issues, as well as any other person or organization acting on their behalf;

4) use by a political party, its authorized representative on financial issues, in order to achieve a certain election results, in addition to the funds from its electoral fund also electoral funds of its regional offices (if there are such electoral funds), other funds amounting to more than 5 per cent of the limit of total expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party established by this Federal Law;

5) exceeding by the political party, its authorized representative on financial issues, of expenditures from the electoral fund by more than 5 per cent of the limit of total expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party established by this Federal Law;"

Source: Articles 99 (10), Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 2014

Art. 76 - "5. Registration of a candidate (list of candidates) may be canceled by a court on the basis of application of an election commission that registered a candidate (list of candidates), a candidate that is registered for the same electoral district, an electoral association, an electoral bloc whose list is registered in the same constituency, in cases:

b) in order to achieve a definite result at the election a candidate, electoral association, electoral bloc, or their authorized representatives used financial resources other than those of his own electoral fund in an amount exceeding 5 percent the maximum limit of all expenditure out of electoral fund established by the law or in the event such expenditure out of electoral fund exceeded the maximum limit established by the law, by more than 5 percent;

c) candidates, heads of electoral associations, electoral blocs took advantage of their official position;

d) it has been established that voters were bribed by candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, their proxies and authorized representatives, other persons and organizations acting on behalf of candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, their proxies and authorized representatives;"

Source: Article 76 (5), Federal law on “Basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in a referendum”, 2002

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