EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Laura Grigorian
Azat Artsakh Daily Newspaper, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
22-06-2007
Interview with the chair of the NKR Central Electoral Commission
Sergey NASIBIAN AA: Mr. Nasibian, election campaign starts June
20. How is it carried out through the media? Sergey Nasibian: First
of all, according to the legislation, the government provides free
and equal opportunities for the election of campaign, namely free
halls and other space, airtime on television and radio. The Central
Electoral Commission has adopted the order. The order and schedule
of electoral campaign on the public television and channel will be
adopted and controlled. The election campaign can use the media,
as well as meetings, debates, marches, demonstrations provided for
by the legislation, spreading of printed materials, recordings and
footages. A presidential candidate has the right for free airtime
on the public television and radio, not more than 30 minutes,
as well as to buy airtime on the election funds, not more than 80
minutes. The price of the airtime is 30 thousand drams per minute on
the public television and 15 thousand drams per minute on the public
radio. According to the amended the Electoral Code, the candidates can
use other licensed TV or radio channels (independent from the form of
ownership), again with equal conditions. The candidates cannot use
the equipment of companies which retransmit TV or radio channels in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Campaign on TV and radio channels is controlled by
the NKR Council of Public Television and Radio, which is authorized to
sue breaches. The Central Electoral Commission is authorized to submit
an opinion with the court. As to the print media, all the newspapers
and journals except for the ones founded by political parties must
provide equal opportunities for the candidates. AA: What forms of
electioneering are allowed and barred by the electoral code? Sergey
Nasibian: During the election campaign the publication and spread
of materials against the constitutional order, preaching violence
and warfare, as well as ethnic, racial, religious hatred. Besides,
during the election campaign it is illegal for the candidates to
give or pledge money, food, shares, goods, or provide or pledge
services. Printing and spreading anonymous materials is illegal. The
materials must refer to the responsible for the publication, the
publisher, and the number of copies. Slander against the candidates
during the election to mislead voters is fined 300-500 thousand
drams or sentenced to 5 years. AA: Mr. Nasibian, who has the right to
electioneer, and who does not have the right? Sergey Nasibian: Every
eligible citizen can electioneer for or against any candidate. But
there are also restrictions. For instance, the government and the
local government officials during their working day, the judiciary,
the police, the national security service, the procuracy, the military,
charities, religious organizations, as well as the members of electoral
commissions cannot electioneer. AA: What measures are taken if the
order of election campaign is breached? Sergey Nasibian: In case of
breaches the central electoral commission applies to the relevant
agencies (head of community, police, it depends on the breach),
as well as to the court of law to repeal the registration of the
candidate. Breaches of the order of the election campaign and the use
of other funds besides the election fund are the two cases when the
CEC can go to the court. The court of law must pass a ruling within
5 days. This is for the candidates. The citizens who breach the order
of election campaign, may be fined 200-500 thousand drams on Article
40.1 of the Electoral Code. We sometimes overlook cases of spoiling
posters or other visual materials, which can be defined as hooliganism
and fined. AA: Mr. Nasibian, what is an election fund? Sergey Nasibian:
The candidates can set up an election fund at any bank of NKR. It can
be the candidate’s own funds, the funds provided by the party which
names the candidate, donations of natural and legal persons. The
government and the local governments, non-resident persons and
organizations if 30 percent of shares are held by NKR of communities,
aliens, charities, religious organizations, international organizations
and international initiatives cannot contribute to this fund. The
money provided by the abovementioned natural and legal persons is
transferred to the state budget. The candidate can provide up to
1 million dollars, the political party which named the candidate
can provide 5 million, the candidate can spend 6 million drams. Each
natural person can provide up to 100 thousand drams, each legal person
up to 300 thousand drams. All the expenses of the campaign must be
covered with the money of the election fund, otherwise the CEC can go
to the court to repeal the registration of the candidate. AA: What
is the deadline of registration of observers and reporters? Sergey
Nasibian: The CEC will accredit local observers until July 10, and
international observers until July 18, reporters will be accredited
until July 18. As of June 19, 1 international and 7 local observers,
as well as 34 local and 8 international journalists (mostly from
Armenia) were accredited. Besides, there are preliminary arrangements
with observation missions and individuals. They are interested in the
presidential election of NKR but accreditation is always more active
during the last week, because usually short-term observers come. AA:
Mr. Nasibian, are the voters’ registers ready, and when will the local
electoral commissions be set up? The passport departments of the
Police made, printed and hung the voters’ registers at the polling
stations from June 1. Now the voters, the heads of communities and
the passport department are working towards precision. As to the
local commissions, according to the electoral code they will be set
up from June 30 to July 3.
Each divisional commission will appoint one member of the local
commission.