a. Yes

Comments: In order to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma in single-mandate electoral districts 225 single-mandate electoral districts shall be formed in the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of the data submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the executive bodies of state power of Subjects of the Russian Federation concerning the number of voters registered in accordance with the requirements of Article 17 of the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum" in the territories of the Subjects of the Russian Federation.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 12(1).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:48:25 GMT

a. The legislature (national/subnational)

Comments: The scheme of single-mandate electoral districts including its graphical representation shall be approved by a federal law which shall be published (made public) not later than 100 days prior to voting day.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 12(7).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:49:23 GMT

a. "Equality" of population

c. Compactness of constituencies

d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries

g. Other

Comments: Single-mandate electoral districts shall be formed in accordance with the following requirements: (a) single-mandate electoral districts shall be approximately equal in the number of voters registered in their territories, with a permissible deviation from the average voter representation quota within one Subject of the Russian Federation not exceeding 10 percent, and in hard-to reach and remote regions not exceeding 15 percent. The list of hard-to-reach and remote regions shall be established by a law of a Subject of the Russian Federation that came into force not later than the day of official publication of the decision to call the election; (b) formation of single-mandate electoral districts in non-adjacent territories within the territory of one Subject of the Russian Federation shall not be allowed unless a part of the territory of the given Subject of the Russian Federation is located within the territory of another Subject of the Russian Federation; (c) formation of a single-mandate electoral district in the territory of two and more Subjects of the Russian Federation shall not be allowed; (d) at least one single-mandate electoral district shall be formed in the territory of each Subject of the Russian Federation; (e) single-mandate electoral districts shall be distributed between Subjects of the Russian Federation so as to ensure as far as possible equal representation in the State Duma of the voters residing in different Subjects of the Russian Federation, with due consideration being given to Subclauses "c" and "d" above. 4. The requirements to the formation of single-mandate electoral districts set forth in Clause 2 of this Article shall be met with due regard to the administrative-territorial (division) of a Subject of the Russian Federation, boundaries of municipal units.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 12(3-4).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:51:51 GMT

c. Number of registered voters

Comments: The registration of voters, referendum participants shall be based on the fact of permanent or current active residence of a citizen of the Russian Federation in the relevant territory that shall be established by population registration bodies, in compliance with the federal law regulating the procedure for implementation of the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to free movement, choice of place of residence and stay within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 17(2).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:52:58 GMT

d. Electoral management body

Comments: No later than 70 days prior to the voting day the appropriate election commission shall determine the layout of electoral districts, indicating their boundaries, the list of administrative-territorial units or municipal units comprised in each electoral district (if the electoral district includes a part of the territory of an administrative-territorial unit or a municipal unit or a populated center the layout shall indicate the boundaries of this part of the territory of the administrative-territorial unit or the municipal unit or the populated center), the number and center of each electoral district, the number of voters in each electoral district. The appropriate representative body of state power, body of local self-government shall approve the layout of electoral districts no later than 60 days prior to the voting day.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 19(1).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:54:57 GMT

c. Changes in numbers of registered voters

k. Boundaries redrawn every____period of years

Comments: k) Boundaries are redrawn before every elections.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 12(1).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:55:54 GMT

a. Mandatory referendum

b. Optional referendum

c. Citizens' initiative

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 .
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:25:54 UTC

a. Constitutional

b. Specific laws/legislation

c. Regulations

d. Other

Comments: ad C) Normative regulations of the Central Election Commission (purpose of which is uniform adaptation of the legal acts regulating referendums). ad D) International (bilateral and multilateral) conventions of the Russian Federations. Generally accepted rules and norms of the international law.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3. Art. 3.
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:38:55 UTC

a. Constitutional

b. Specific laws/legislation

c. Regulations

d. Other

Comments: ad C) Normative regulations of the Central Election Commission (purpose of which is uniform adaptation of the legal acts regulating referendums). ad D)Generally accepted rules and norms of the international law.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3. Art. 3.
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:40:49 UTC

a. Constitutional

b. Specific laws/legislation

c. Regulations

d. Other

Comments: ad C) Normative regulations of the Central Election Commission (purpose of which is uniform adaptation of the legal acts regulating referendums). ad D)Generally accepted rules and norms of the international law.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3. Art. 3.
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:43:18 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:43:53 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:44:11 UTC

b. Specific laws/legislation

Source: -Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. -Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 .
Last updated: 2005-03-31 18:49:10 UTC

b. Specific laws/legislation

Source: -Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. -Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 .
Last updated: 2005-03-31 18:51:11 UTC

b. Specific laws/legislation

Source: -Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. -Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 .
Last updated: 2005-03-31 18:51:35 UTC

f. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:02:22 UTC

f. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:02:39 UTC

b. Sample of signatures checked

Comments: At least 40% of the minimum required number of signatures (2 000 000) has to be checked.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .19.(4)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:05:09 UTC

b. Sample of signatures checked

Comments: At least 40% of the minimum required number of signatures (2 000 000) has to be checked.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(2)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:05:59 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:06:17 UTC

a. Agency/department responsible for the administration of direct democracy mechanisms

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .19.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:06:58 UTC

a. Agency/department responsible for the administration of direct democracy mechanisms

Comments: Russian Centre on Studies of Electoral Technics. This is a non-governmental organization, established by the Central Election Commission.
Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:08:58 UTC

a. Agency/department responsible for the administration of direct democracy mechanisms

f. Other (specify)

Comments: Russian Centre on Studies of Electoral Technics. This is a non-governmental organization, established by the Central Election Commission.
Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:08:33 UTC

g. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 19:44:36 UTC

a. Information booklets

c. Radio broadcasts

d. TV broadcasts

e. Press advertisements

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-30 19:47:03 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:45:48 UTC

a. Information booklets

c. Radio broadcasts

d. TV broadcasts

e. Press advertisements

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-30 19:47:39 UTC

i. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 19:48:07 UTC

b. Expenditure limits

c. Contribution limits

d. Restrictions on the sources of contributions

e. Disclosure requirements

f. Other (please specify)

Comments: ad b) 250 million rubels, ad c) the law specifies it(for example: contribution of the members of initiative group shall not exceed 1% of the maximum total sum; contribution of the political party can not exceed 50% of the maximum total sum); ad d) law contains exhaustive list (for example: governmental institutions, foreign states, anonimous persons can not contribute ad f)only money from the funds of the initiative and agitative groups can be used for the campaigning purpuses
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.48.(4,(5),(9); (52).
Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:16:33 UTC

a. Compulsory registration of campaigners and campaign groups

b. Expenditure limits

c. Contribution limits

d. Restrictions on the sources of contributions

e. Disclosure requirements

f. Other (please specify)

Comments: ad b) 250 million rubels, ad c) the law specifies it(for example: contribution of the members of initiative group shall not exceed 1% of the maximum total sum; contribution of the political party can not exceed 50% of the maximum total sum); ad d) law contains exhaustive list (for example: governmental institutions, foreign states, anonimous persons can not contribute ad f)only money from the funds of the initiative and agitative groups can be used for the campaigning purpuses
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.48.(4,(5),(9); (52). On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art.42.(2)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:59:05 UTC

h. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:18:42 UTC

a. Fixed time period (specify)

Comments: Representative of the referendum fund who is responsible for the book-keeping and disclosure of the expenditures shall hold his office until the 70 (seventy) days period (commencing with the day of voting)ends.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.49.(5).
Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:27:56 UTC

a. Fixed time period (specify)

Comments: Representative of the initiative group who is responsible for the book-keeping and disclosure of the expenditures shall hold his office from the registration of the initiative group until the 70 (seventy) days period (commencing with the day of voting)ends.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.49.(5).
Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:28:14 UTC

c. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:28:32 UTC

c. All campaign organisations

Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art.51.(1)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:04:36 UTC

b. Selected campaign organisations

Comments: Only those campaigners whose candidates' lists participated in distribution of the mandates on the last elections.
Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art. 51.(2)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:07:02 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:46:05 UTC

f. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:34:13 UTC

b. Free media access

Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art. 51.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:07:48 UTC

b. Free media access

Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art. 51.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:08:15 UTC

g. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 20:48:48 UTC

a. equal

Comments: Broadcast time and printing space is allocated on equal basis among the entitled campaigners.
Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art. 51-52.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:10:14 UTC

b. No

Comments: Government is not permitted but the political parties, even the ruling one are permitted to it.
Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3 Art.42.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:12:10 UTC

a. X

Comments: Law regulates the maximum amount of the allocatable free time (overall 60 minutes on working days on each of the publicly owned channels)and the maximum amount of the paid air time (double of the above mentioned).
Source: On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. No 67/ F3. Art. 51.(6-7)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:17:49 UTC

a. Mandatory referendum 1991
b. Optional referendum 1991
c. Citizens' initiative 1991

Comments: In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet regime, the democratic Constitution was accepted. This Constitution introduced the direct democracy mechanism, but the specific laws regulating referendums were created only in 2002 and 2004.
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:57:14 UTC

a. Mandatory referendum 1991
b. Optional referendum 1991
c. Citizens' initiative 1991

Source: www.cikrf.ru
Last updated: 2005-03-13 16:58:34 UTC

b. Independent electoral commission

Comments: ad B) Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 20. (12); Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.10..
Last updated: 2005-03-13 17:01:16 UTC

a. Yes

Source: Federal Act on Election of Deputies of State Duma of Russian Federation of 2002. N175/F3.; Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.
Last updated: 2005-03-13 17:03:13 UTC

a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces

Comments: Theoretically it is possible according to the Constitution and federal acts, but if it is also practically possible or not it depends on legal acts of the specific Subject.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(2)
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:39:48 UTC

a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:41:12 UTC

a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:40:49 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:41:42 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-31 18:55:35 UTC

a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes

Comments: It is permitted by the federal acts but the concrete use of it depends on the specific municipal statutes.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(3). Constitution of 12th December 1993, Art. 130.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 21:04:12 UTC

a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(3). Constitution of 12th December 1993, Art. 130.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 21:03:48 UTC

a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12.(3). Constitution of 12th December 1993, Art. 130.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 21:04:40 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:45:39 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:45:58 UTC

b. Adoption of international treaties

j. Other (specify)

Comments: International treaties of the Russian Referendum declare the need of referendum, in most cases it is affirmation of the specific treaty.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art. 6. (2, (11).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 19:15:14 UTC

a. Constitutional amendments

j. Other (specify)

Comments: ad A) The Constitutional Assembly decides if the amendment of the Constitution should be put on the popular vote or not. ad J) At first issues that come under solely Russian Federation and at second under joint competence of regions and Russian Federation can be put to referendum.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.6. (1); (4).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 19:22:50 UTC

g. Civil service

h. Taxes and public expenditure commitments

i. Other public policy issues

j. Other (specify)

Comments: ad I) preliminary recall of the President of Russian Federation, Duma or Federal Assembly.Untimely election of the authorities mentioned before. ad J) - alteration of the status of the Subject stipulated by the Constitution; - amnesty; - adoption of urgent and irregular rules concerning health-policy or security issues. The question put on the referendum can not diminish human or civil rights
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.6.(5).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 19:31:04 UTC

d. Other (specify)

Comments: Any issue that comes under Subject's competence or the joint competence of the Subject and Russian Federation, in case the issue in question is not regulated by the Constitution or any federal act.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 12. (2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 19:53:08 UTC

f. Other (specify)

Comments: ad F) - Constitutional Assembly; - Federal authority in cases determined in the internatinal treaty.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.14. (1) ; (3). Constitution of the Russian Federation of December 1993, Art. 135. (3)
Last updated: 2005-03-31 19:02:10 UTC

f. Other (specify who)

Comments: Federal authority determined in the international treaty.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art. 22. (1)
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:04:52 UTC

f. Other (specify who)

Comments: ad F) Constitutional Assembly.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art. 10.(7); 21.
Last updated: 2005-03-31 19:02:43 UTC

c. An explanatory text

e. Other (specify)

Comments: ad E) In case there are several referendum questions they can be eather included in the same ballot and separated by horisontal lines or bestowed to separate ballot papers.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 70. (3-4).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:10:36 UTC

c. An explanatory text

e. Other (specify)

Comments: ad E) In case there are several referendum questions they can be eather included in the same ballot and separated by horisontal lines or bestowed to separate ballot papers.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 70.(3-4).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:13:13 UTC

b. Independent electoral commission

Comments: Central Election Commission formally confirms the final form and text of the ballot on Russian language. The Subject Election Commission confirms it on other language (Subject's official language)
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 70.(1). Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.30.(14)
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:18:11 UTC

b. Independent electoral commission

Comments: Central Election Commission formally confirms the final form and text of the ballot on Russian language. The Subject Election Commission confirms it on other language (Subject's official language).
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 70.(1). Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.30.(14).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:19:54 UTC

a. Turnout quorum 25%

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.80.(8).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:21:02 UTC

a. Turnout quorum 25%

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.80.(8).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:25:18 UTC

a. Simple majority (>50%)

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.80.(7).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:26:15 UTC

a. Simple majority (>50%)

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.80.(7).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:27:10 UTC

a. Always

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.83.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-19 20:35:26 UTC

a. Always

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.83.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-31 19:06:01 UTC

b. Legislative proposals

c. Other (specify)

Comments: Questions of state importance and questions that according to the Constitution come under Russian Federation and jointly under Subject and Russian Federation.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.6. (2-3-4).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 17:52:48 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 17:53:12 UTC

a. Constitutional amendments

g. Civil service

h. Taxes and public expenditure commitments

i. Other public policy issues

Comments: - Change of the status of the Subject determined by the Constitution; - Amnesty
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.6.(5).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 17:55:21 UTC

a. A number of individuals

b. Registered committee/organisation

Comments: Registration of the citizens' initiative shall be launched by the "initiative group" that consist of appropriate number of regional sub-groups registered by the Subject's Election Commission. Upon the registration members of the sub-regional groups shall collect in 45 days period 2 000 000 signatures of the registered voters in order the initiative to be carried out.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.14.(1); 15.(10),(19); 17.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:07:39 UTC

d. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:07:04 UTC

a. Proposed title

c. Full proposed text

d. Other (specify)

Comments: The initiative group shall submit the following documents to be registered: 1.formulation of the question; 2.list of the Subjects where the sub-regional groups were registered; 3. decision of rhe Subject Election Commissions on registration of the sub-regional groups; 4.minutes on the meeting of the sub-regional groups' representatives; 5.power of attorney for the initiative group's members.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.15.(21).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:20:25 UTC

a. Proponents of the initiative

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.15.(21).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:20:58 UTC

f. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:21:21 UTC

h. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:22:48 UTC

e. None

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:23:08 UTC

a. An automatic check is part of the initiative process

Comments: President of the Russian Federational upon the acquisition of the documents from the Central Election Commission shall forward them to the Constitutional Court, that checks if the initiative is consistent with the Constitutional regulations.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.23.(1-2).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:27:32 UTC

f. Other (specify)

Comments: Constitutional Court
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.23.(1-2).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:28:30 UTC

c. After its submission but before the vote on the initiative

Comments: After the controll and approval of the signatures collected Central Election Commission shall send all the documents to the President of the Russian Federation, who shall forward them in 10 days period to the Constitutional Court for the constitutionality check.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.23.(1).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:31:53 UTC

g. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:32:12 UTC

d. Not at all

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:32:30 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:32:57 UTC

f. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:34:23 UTC

a. Proponents of the initiative

Comments: Formulation of the question is task of the initiative group.Central Election Commission shall confirm the form and the text of the ballot.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.15.(21); 30.(14).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:36:56 UTC

a. Within a certain time limit (specify)

Comments: President of the Russian Federation in 15 (fifteen) days period upon acquisition of the Constitutional Court's resolution shall decide on the day of the vote. It shall not take place earlier than 60 (sixty) and shall not take place later than 100 (one hundred) days upon the announcement of the day of vote.
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.23.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:40:55 UTC

a. Fixed number 2 000 000

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.14.(1)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:25:55 UTC

a. Fixed number 2 000 000

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.14.(1)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:27:59 UTC

a. Fixed number 2 000 000

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.14.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:29:15 UTC

e. Not applicable X

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:30:27 UTC

a. Fixed time period (specify)

Comments: 45 (forty-five) days
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:37:02 UTC

a. Fixed time period (specify)

Comments: 45 (forty-five) days
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:37:38 UTC

a. Fixed time period (specify)

Comments: 45 (forty-five) days
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:38:13 UTC

c. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:38:47 UTC

b. Signatories must be registered electors in a specific electoral district

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:42:34 UTC

b. Signatories must be registered electors in a specific electoral district

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:42:58 UTC

b. Signatories must be registered electors in a specific electoral district

Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:43:30 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:43:49 UTC

e. Not applicable X

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:45:11 UTC

c. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:45:35 UTC

a. Anywhere

Comments: Within the territory of the Subject, regarding that according to the law no more than 50 000 signatures can be collecten within one Subject
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(3-4)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:50:30 UTC

a. Anywhere

Comments: Within the territory of the Subject, regarding that according to the law no more than 50 000 signatures can be collecten within one Subject
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(3-4)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:49:39 UTC

a. Anywhere

Comments: Within the territory of the Subject, regarding that according to the law no more than 50 000 signatures can be collecten within one Subject
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .Art.17.(3-4)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:51:00 UTC

g. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:51:27 UTC

g. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:51:46 UTC

a. Signatories must provide identity/voting card number

c. Other (specify)

Comments: Name of the signatory; date of birth; address; date of signing
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:55:45 UTC

a. Signatories must provide identity/voting card number

c. Other (specify)

Comments: Name of the signatory; date of birth; address; date of signing
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:56:11 UTC

a. Signatories must provide identity/voting card number

c. Other (specify)

Comments: Name of the signatory; date of birth; address; date of signing
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(5)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:56:30 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:56:50 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:57:17 UTC

e. Other (specify)

Comments: Signature collector has to be registered with the respective Subject Election Commission
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(3)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 21:59:53 UTC

e. Other (specify)

Comments: Signature collector has to be registered with the respective Subject Election Commission
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(3).
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:01:50 UTC

e. Other (specify)

Comments: Signature collector has to be registered with the respective Subject Election Commission
Source: Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. No 5/FK .17.(3)
Last updated: 2005-03-30 22:02:06 UTC

a. Name of Institution Central Electoral Commission of Russian Federation
b. Full Address Russia, Moscow, B. Chenkassky pez 9.
c. Telephone 7095/ 206 86 51
d. Facsimile +7 956 39 30
e. Email intdiv(a)a5. kiam.ru
f. Website Address WWW.CIKRF.RU
g. Name and Title of Chairperson/President Alexander Veshnyakov
i. Official language of the electoral law governing national elections Russian

Source: Olga Balashova, Head of the Section of the International Department Central Election Commission, intdiv(a)a5.kiam.ru
Last updated: 2006-02-16 09:12:06 UTC

a. National level

b. Regional level

c. Local level

Comments: At Regional and Local elections only partly.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, Chapter IV. Federal Law ont he Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter IV.
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

f. Other

Comments: It is an independent organ therefore the control functions are tend inside the commission. Commission reports to State Duma on Spending funds allocated from the State Budget
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 21(14).
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

c. The legislature

Comments: Activities of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be funded from the federal budget; activities of election commissions of Subjects of the Russian Federation shall be funded from the federal budget and the budgets of Subjects of the Russian Federation; activities of territorial election commissions that is acting on a permanent basis - from local budgets and in the cases stipulated by federal law and laws of Subjects of the Russian Federation from federal budget or the budget of Subjects of the Russian Federation respectively.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 21(14).
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

c. The legislature

g. Other

Comments: Every year, the Central Election Commission shall submit a report on the expenditure of the funds allocated from the federal budget for its activity and the conduct of elections in accordance with a procedure and format established by federal laws. Every year, the Election Commission of s Subject of the Russian Federation shall submit a report on the expenditure of the funds allocated from the budget of the Subject of the Russian Federation for its activity and the conduct of elections in accordance with a procedure and format established by federal laws, lows of the Subject of the Russian Federation
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 21(15)
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

b. For a term of _________ years

Comments: The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall act on a permanent basis and be a legal entity. The term of powers of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be 4 years.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 22(1).
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

a. Elected (specify by whom)

Comments: Members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall elect the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and Secretary of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation from among themselves by secret ballot.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 22(5).
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

a. estimated total: 1500000000
b. Exchange rate used 1/30

Comments: 1 500 000 000 USD
Source: CEC- Andrej Davidov (May 2002)
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

a. Total number: 108.000.000

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

a. USD/registered voter 0.6
b. Exchange rate used 1/30

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

Last updated: 2008-01-21 13:49:20 UTC

c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)

Comments: The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state. The President of the Russian Federation is elected for a term of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of general, equal and direct vote by secret ballot. The Law on Presidential Elections requires that the winner receives more than 50 percent of the votes cast. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters face each other in a runoff election. Once the results of the first round are known, the runoff election must be held within fifteen days. A candidate in a two-person runoff might win without attaining a majority. If the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma.
Source: Constitution, articles 80 and 81. Federal Law on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation, article 72(3)(December 31, 1999).
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

e. Appointed

Comments: The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation is appointed by the President of the Russian Federation with the consent of the House of Representatives [State Duma].
Source: Constitution, article 111(1).
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

a. Yes

Comments: 1) The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state. 2) The President is the guarantor of the Constitution, and of human and civil rights and freedoms. In accordance with the procedure established by the Constitution, he takes measures to protect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, its independence and state integrity, and ensure concerted functioning and interaction of all bodies of state power. (3) The President of the Russian Federation defines the basic domestic and foreign policy guidelines of the state in accordance with the Constitution and federal laws. (4) The President of the Russian Federation as head of state represents the Russian Federation inside the country and in international relations."
Source: Constitution, article 80.
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

b. Two chambers

Comments: 1) The Federal Assembly consists of two chambers: the Federation Council and the House of Representatives [State Duma]. 2) Two deputies from each subject of the Federation are members of Federation Council: one from the representative and one from the executive bodies of state authority. 3) The House of Representatives [State Duma] consists of 450 deputies
Source: Constitution, article 95.
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

e. Parallel (Segmented) (PR Lists and Majoritarian constituencies)

Comments: The Russian electoral system can be characterized as a classic example of a parallel electoral system. Both party-list Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP) voting are used for choosing deputies in the Duma, but there is no adjustment of the party-list representatives to reflect disparities in the overall seat-vote share, as there is in Germany and New Zealand. The total number of deputies is 450, with half selected by PR and half chosen in single-member plurality constituencies. The PR system operates in effect as one constituency, since the votes for political parties are tallied across the entire country. Nevertheless, parties compete regionally on closed lists, in accord with the June 1995 law adopted by the Federal Assembly. A nominee for a national party list of 12 members may also seek election from an FPTP single-member district in the region. Consequently, this can result in another seat for a political party, which wins on the PR ballot. Upon achieving the threshold of at least five percent of the PR votes, seats are distributed according to the largest remainder formula. A 25% voter turnout is required to validate the poll. Each voter thus casts two separate ballots. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled either through by-elections (majority system) or by "next-in-line" candidates of the same party list (proportional representation system).
Source: Constitution, article 95. Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Art.3
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

j. By appointment

Comments: The Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii consists of 178 regional representatives appointed by legislative and executive government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:02:35 GMT

c. Largest Remainder Method (Quota)

Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 82.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:04:13 GMT

a. National level

b. Specially delimited constituencies

Comments: On the national level seats are allocated by Proportional Representation. In special constituencies the first past the post rule is used (FPTP).
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 3.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:05:39 GMT

c. Regional or provincial level

Comments: Regional representatives appointed by legislative and executive government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin - Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

b. No

Source: Electoral acts
Last updated: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 14:34:09 GMT

e. Not applicable x

Comments: Seats are not reserved in State Duma.
Source: Electoral Acts
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:09:20 GMT

b. No

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

e. Not applicable x

Comments: Seats are not reserved in Federal Council.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:20:21 GMT

b. Specify the percentage:

Comments: 7% is the threshold.
Source: .
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

c. Not applicable

Comments: Members of the Federal Council are appointed.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:13:29 GMT

a. No minimum

Comments: In simple-mandate constituency the candidate who has a simple majority of the casted votes wins the seat.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 3.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:27:23 GMT

c. Not applicable

Comments: The members of the Federal Council are not elected - two persons are sent from each Subject (one represents the legislature, the other executive power). The method of appointing these persons differs in each Subject
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:14:08 GMT

a. At fixed intervals (specify length)

b. Elections can be called at any time (specify by whom)

Comments: a) Every 4 years. b) Elections can be called at any time by the President under the circumstances mentioned in the Federal Law.
Source: Constitution, article 96.
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

e. Not applicable

Comments: The members of the Federal Council are not elected - two persons are sent from each Subject (one represents the legislature, the other executive power). The method of appointing these persons differs in each Subject.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:18:25 GMT

a. Voting takes place on one day

Comments: Voting shall be conducted on a non-working calendar day from 8.00 to 20.00 local time.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 76.
Last updated: 2007-12-17 14:53:41 UTC

c. Not applicable

Comments: The members of the Federal Council are not elected - two persons are sent from each Subject (one represents the legislature, the other executive power). The method of appointing these persons differs in each Subject.
Source: www.ipu.org
Last updated: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 15:57:47 GMT

a. Part of Constitution

b. Separate legislation

Comments: Legislation on the election of deputies of the State Duma shall comprise the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum", this federal Law and other federal laws.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 2.
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

a. January 2000 or later

Comments: Federal Law on the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, June 24, 1999. Adopted by the State Duma on June 2, 1999. Approved by the Federation Council on June 9, 1999. These acts are consequentely amended. In recent times their is a draft in Parliament that is going to change the valid acts in several points.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

a. National elections

d. Referendums

Source: Electoral Acts
Last updated: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 15:08:32 GMT

a. Voting is voluntary

Comments: a) Participation of a citizen of the Russian Federation in the election shall be free and voluntary. Nobody shall exert any influence on a citizen of the Russian Federation in order to compel him/her to participate or not to participate in the election and on a free expression of a citizen's will.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 4.
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

b. National elections are held on the same day as regional and local elections

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

c. Not applicable

Last updated: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 15:23:45 GMT

a. Judiciary

b. EMB

Comments: b) Electoral commissions at different levels.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

h. Not applicable

Comments: The agency(ies) which settles formal disputes is/are not specially appointed/elected.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

a. Candidates

b. Parties

c. Voters

e. Other

Comments: 1. Decisions and actions (inaction) which violate electoral rights of citizens may be appealed by voters, candidates, registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, their agents, other public associations, agents of registered candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, observers and election commissions. If the violations indicated in a complaint (complaints) affect a large number of citizens or if the violation has assumed a special public significance owing to some other circumstances, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may apply to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, which shall consider the substance of the complaint. 2. Decisions and actions (inaction) of bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, public associations and officials as well as decisions and actions (inaction) of electoral commissions and their officials, which violate electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation, may be appealed in a court.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 90.
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

c. Superior Court

d. Local Court

Comments: Depending on the type of cases.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation II.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 14:22:11 GMT

b. Legislative Committee

c. Government

f. Other

Comments: f) The President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the members to the Federation Council, the deputies to the House of Representatives [State Duma], the Government of the Russian Federation and the legislative (representative) bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation have the right of legislative initiative. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Supreme Court of Arbitration of the Russian Federation also have the right of legislative initiative within their jurisdiction.
Source: Constitution, article 104.
Last updated: 2006-11-21 20:56:17 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

d. Owned by political parties

Comments: Any individual, association of individuals, enterprise, institution, organization, state body can be founder of radio station.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, Of December 27, 1991, No 2124. Art.7.
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:44:44 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

d. Owned by political parties

Comments: Any individual, association of individuals, enterprise, institution, organization, state body can be founder of television station.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, Of December 27, 1991, No 2124. Art.7.
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:45:05 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

d. Owned by political parties

Comments: Any individual, association of individuals, enterprise, institution, organization, state body can be founder of a newspaper.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, Of December 27, 1991, No 2124. Art.7.
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:45:22 UTC

c. Competition exists between government newspaper and at least one private newspaper

Comments: Rob Coalson, a former Russian Studies instructor at Cornell who heads the National Press Institute’s business development department, says there are no more than five independent daily newspapers in Russia financed by advertising revenues, excluding oligarch owned national newspapers. Press observers at the U.S. embassy in Moscow and the U.S. consulate in Ekaterinburg agree.
Source: "Russia’s Dysfunctional Media Culture" By Herman J. Obermayer http://www.policyreview.org/aug00/Obermayer_print.html
Last updated: 2005-03-20 19:27:52 UTC

b. 30% to 60%

Source: http://countrystudies.us/russia/75.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-20 19:39:14 UTC

b. 30 to 60%

Source: http://countrystudies.us/russia/75.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-20 19:39:42 UTC

b. Private radio

d. Private television

e. Print media

Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:48:22 UTC

a. a

Comments: Constitution of the Russian Federation (Art. 29.(5)) Federal Act on Mass Media, Of December 27, 1991, No 2124.
Last updated: 2005-03-26 18:51:21 UTC

a. Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.

Comments: This act was adopted on 27th of December, 1991. Last amended by the act No.N94-F3, on 4th of July, 2003.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:18:58 UTC

a. Over 60%

Source: http:/www.russiansabroad.com/russian_history_280htm
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:20:44 UTC

b. 30% to 60%

Source: http:/countrystudies.us/russia/75.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:21:37 UTC

d. Public television

f. Private television

Comments: Public television is the most important source of the information. The majority of the shares in the top four Tv channels are still property of the state. For example the largest network (ORT) that reaches 200 million people is 51% state-owned. The second most important source of the information is the private television.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:37:42 UTC

d. Private television

e. Print media

Comments: In my opinion the private television and some gazettes have such a reputation but it is very difficult to judge.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:40:12 UTC

a. a

Comments: According to the Article 3. of the "Federal Act on Mass Media" any kind of censorship is forbidden. This law defines the meaning of the "censorship": anticipatory approval, inspection of the governmental institutions).
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.3.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:43:41 UTC

a. a

Comments: Granting of the broadcasting licenses and frequencies is regulated by the Federal Act on Mass Media.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:45:43 UTC

a. Government

Comments: The application for the registration of mass medium whose product are intended for the dissemination chiefly: a)in the entire territory of the Russian Federation and on the territory of several Subjects within the Russian Federation shall be submitted by its founder to the Ministry of the Press and Information; b)in the territory of a Subject within the Russian Federation, region, district, town, other populated locality shall be submitted to a respective territorial bodies of the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Freedom of the Press and Mass Communications under the Ministry of the Press and Information.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.8.
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:12:35 UTC

a. Political parties

b. Private companies

c. Non governmental organisations

d. Foreigners

e. Government departments

f. State owned companies

Comments: ad d) citizen of another State or stateless person has to be domiciled in the Russian Federation to be holder of the broadcasting license.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.7.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 12:57:51 UTC

a. a

Comments: Repeated (for more times in 12 months period ) breaches by the editorial office of the requirements stipulated in Art. 4. of the Mass Media Act (Misuse of the Mass Media) shall be ground for the TERMINATION of the activity of the mass medium by court. The need for the security of the suit may serve as a ground for the SUSPENSION by the court of law of the activity of the mass medium. In case the medium pereatedly breaches rules regarding the elections and referendums Central Election Commission initiates at the court SUSPENSION of the activitives of the respective medium.
Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.16. 16.(1).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 13:08:53 UTC

a. Yes

Comments: - On August 15 in 2003 German Galkin publisher of Rabochaja Gazeta and deputy chief of Vecherny Chelyabinsk was sentenced to one year in labour camp for libeling and insulting two deputy governors of Chelyabinsk Region. - Gregory Pasko was convicted of treason and sentenced to 4 years prison on 25th of December 2001 for intending to leak classified information to Japanese news outlets about the Russian Pacific Fleet's dumping of nuclear waste in the Sea of Japan. - On May 12 2004 Alexey Cherepanov was arrested on a false charge (Disobedience against officers of the drug enforcement agency. Drug was bootleged to the journalist's house by the officer)
Source: http:/www.cpj.org/regions_03/europe03.html www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/08/296524.html
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:14:42 UTC

a. Law

Source: - Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. - Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 14:22:32 UTC

c. Government

d. Legislature

g. EMB by law or regulations

Comments: ad g) Central Election Commission distributes air time and supervises if the medium's activities comply with the laws and its normative regulations.
Source: - Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation on Assisting the Electoral Commissions in Arrangements for Preparing and Holding the Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation - Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3.
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:16:08 UTC

d. Other (specify)

Comments: Central Election Commission regulates allocation of the free airtime and advertisement space in print media during the election campaign.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 21.(9)/d.
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:17:02 UTC

a. Yes

Comments: 1. Central Election Commission controls the lawfulness of election campaign. 2. Election commissions of all levels can initiate legal/administrative procedure in order to cease violations. 3.Means of media have to report to Central Election Commission on the allocation (usage) of the free and paid air time and advertisement space.
Source: - Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art.56.(7-8); - Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art.51.(11); - Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.16.(1).
Last updated: 2005-04-01 12:57:39 UTC

c. Other (specify)

Comments: Initiation of legal and administrative procedure.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 56.(8-9).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 14:44:58 UTC

a. Yes

Comments: Precisely this case is not regulated by the law, but there is a rule that all the candidates and parties have to be treated on the equal basis, so in my point of view, the answer is "yes".
Last updated: 2005-03-28 14:49:56 UTC

a. Criminal prosecution

b. Administrative sanction

Source: Act on Administrative Liability of Legal Entities for Violations of the Russian Federation Laws on Elections and Referenda, of 6th of December 1999, No.210-FZ.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 14:55:31 UTC

a. Yes

Comments: In 1999 media-community accepted a code of ethics in connection with the Duma Elections. But only very few journalists joint it.
Source: Central Election Commission of Russian Federation e-mail: [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:00:54 UTC

b. Usually respected

Comments: Usually respected by those who joint this code of ethics.
Source: Central Election Commission of Russian Federation e-mail: [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:02:40 UTC

a. EMB

Comments: General rules on free and paid access of the candidates to the media are laid down in the Act on Basic Guarantees. Central Election Commission is entitled to specify these rules in its normative regulations.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 56.(8-9).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:06:55 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Comments: ad a) each of the medium has to provide registered candidates/ political parties with at least 60 minutes air time. ad c) must be founded at least 1 year prior to the elections.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 50.(4); 51.(3).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:33:31 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Comments: ad c) has to be registered at least 1 year prior to the eletions.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 50.(4); 51.(3).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:34:39 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Comments: ad c) has to be founded at least 1 year prior to the elections.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 50.(4); 51.(3).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:35:34 UTC

a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art.51.(1).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:37:34 UTC

b. The law does not specify any limits on paid advertising X

Comments: The law only establishes the general maximum amount, that can be spent on election campaign. This is 250 000 times the minimum wage.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:51:04 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art.51.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:54:16 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art.51.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:54:59 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 51.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:55:36 UTC

a. Equal regardless of size and previous performance

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art.51.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:56:22 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 51.(6),(8);
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:58:04 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 51.(6),(8);
Last updated: 2005-03-28 15:58:41 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Comments: Also the privately owned media. But the latest have right to deny publication of campaign matherials.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 52.
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:23:51 UTC

a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance

Comments: The law establishes the general maximum air time/ advertisement place, that can be allocated for the fee. It shall not exceed the double amount of the air time/advertisement place allocated for free.
Source: Act on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum of 2002. N 67/ F3. Art. 51.(6).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:04:37 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Comments: "Publicly owned" includes the state owned and local government- owned stations.
Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 1-7.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:08:23 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Comments: "Publicly owned" includes state owned and local government owned television stations.
Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 1-7.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:09:45 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Comments: "Publicly owned" includes state owned and local government-owned newspapers.
Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 1-7.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:12:06 UTC

a. Equal regardless of size and previous performance of candidate’s party

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art. 51.(1).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:12:58 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art.51.(6),(7).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:14:31 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art.51.(6),(7).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:14:54 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art.51.(6),(7).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:15:16 UTC

a. Equal regardless of size and previous performance of candidate’s party

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art.51.(8).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:20:48 UTC

b. The law does not specify any limits on paid advertising X

Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:21:28 UTC

a. ....... X

Comments: - Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation orders medium to present reports on amount and costs of the allocated broadcast time and printed advertisements. Medium have to store these reports for 3 years. - Regulation of the Central Election Commission on Controll Service (organized by CEC) regulates the reports on expenditure of the candidates/parties/initiative groups.
Source: - Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art.51.(11-12-13). - Regulation of the CEC on Controll Service Art. 3.13.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:30:35 UTC

b. The law does not specify any limits X

Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:32:41 UTC

b. None X

Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:33:22 UTC

a. Yes, in presidential elections

Comments: Yes, in both presidential and legislative elections (I could'nt tick both of them)are televised debates conducted.
Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3. Art. 52.(6-7). Federal Act on Election of Deputies of State Duma of Russian Federation of 2002. N175/F3. Art. 60.(4).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:46:37 UTC

Comments: Half of the air time alocated for free has to be allocated for conduction of debates on public TV/ radio.
Source: Federal Act on Election of Deputies of State Duma of Russian Federation of 2002. N175/F3.Art. 60.(4). Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 52.(6).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:51:46 UTC

a. Person or agency that commissioned the opinion poll

c. Characteristics of the sample

d. Size of the sample

e. Margin of error

f. Other

Comments: ad f) name of the agency that conducted the opinion poll; methodology of information collecting; exact question asked during the inquiry.
Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 47.(2). Federal Act on Election of Deputies of State Duma of Russian Federation of 2002. N175/F3.Art.55.(2).
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:27:48 UTC

c. 4-5 days

Comments: Five days.
Source: Federal Act on Election of Deputies of State Duma of Russian Federation of 2002. N175/F3.Art.55.(3). Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art.47.(3)
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:28:14 UTC

c. Not permitted

Source: Act on Election of the President of Russian Federation of 2003. N19/F3.Art. 47.(3).
Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:57:39 UTC

e. Not applicable

Last updated: 2005-03-28 16:57:59 UTC

b. After all polls close, before official results are available

Source: Central Election Commission e-mail: [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:31:11 UTC

a. Yes

Source: CEntral Election Commission e-mail: [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:01:45 UTC

c. A commissioner with responsibility for media work

Comments: Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Lisinko
Source: www.cikrf.ru
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:12:03 UTC

b. No

Source: Central Election Commission [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:32:17 UTC

c. Press conferences/briefings

Source: Central Election Commission e-mai: [email protected]
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:15:14 UTC

a. Yes

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:35:28 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.35.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:19:43 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.35.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:20:24 UTC

a. Publicly owned

Source: Federal Act on Mass Media, No.2124-1 of 1991. Art.35.
Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:20:55 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:37:18 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:37:39 UTC

a. Publicly owned

c. Privately owned

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/rcoit/default.htm
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:38:03 UTC

d. It monitors the media coverage of its own activities.

f. Other

Comments: Russian Centre on Studies of Electoral Technologies is founded by Central Election Commission. This non-governmental organization among the others is responsible for effective communication between the CEC and media.
Source: Central Election Commission e-mail: [email protected] www.cikrf.ru
Last updated: 2005-03-29 21:43:16 UTC

c. Cost of paid advertising limiting dissemination of voter education messages

Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:24:15 UTC

b. Quite effective

Last updated: 2005-03-28 17:24:52 UTC

a. Signature requirement (specify requirement)

b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)

Comments: Support of the candidate directly nominated by voters: 2. Save the case when an electoral deposit has been paid the number of signatures to be collected in support of nomination of a candidate shall be equal to not less than one per cent of the total number of voters registered in the territory of the given electoral district. In the event of an early election, the number of signatures to be collected in support of nomination of a candidate shall account for not less than 0.5 percent of the total number of voters registered in the territory of the given electoral district. Support of the candidate/ federal list of candidates nominated by Electoral Association, Electoral Bloc:. Save the case when an electoral deposit has been paid an electoral association, electoral bloc which has nominated candidates in single-mandate electoral districts shall collect voter signatures in support of nomination of a candidate among voters of the electoral district in which the candidate consented to run for election, the number of such signatures to be collected in support of each candidature being not less than one percent of the total number of voters registered in the territory of the given electoral district. In the event of an early election the number of signatures to be collected in support of each candidature shall be not less than 0.5 percent of the total number of voters registered in the territory of the given electoral district. 2. Save the case when an electoral deposit has been paid an electoral association, electoral bloc which has nominated a federal list of candidates shall collect not less than 200 thousand voter signatures in its support, with each Subject of the Russian Federation accounting for not more than fourteen thousand of the required total number of signatures. In the event of an early election the aforesaid number of signatures shall be reduced by half.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 42(2) and 43(1-2).
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:38:16 GMT

g. Not applicable

Comments: Members of the Federal Council are appointed by each subject.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:39:06 GMT

a. Age

b. Citizenship

f. Registration

Comments: a) 21 years old.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter VI, article 4(2).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:45:48 GMT

a. Age

b. Citizenship

j. Other

Comments: a) 21 years old. Each subject appoints or elects two delegates, who represent both the legislature and executive powers. The methods of choosing these persons differs and is laid down in the acts of the subject.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:00:56 GMT

a. Age

b. Citizenship

d. Residence

Comments: Eligible to the office of President of the Russian Federation shall be a citizen of the Russian Federation who has attained the age of 35 years and has permanently resided in the Russian Federation for not less than 10 years.
Source: Law on Election of the President of Russian Federation, article 3(3).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:49:32 GMT

a. Current criminal incarceration

e. Offences against electoral law

k. Mental health problems

Comments: a) depends on the crime. e)For example: proportion of unauthentic signatures found among the signatures exceeds 10 %.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 4(6).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:51:03 GMT

a. Current criminal incarceration

e. Offences against electoral law

k. Mental health problems

Comments: The citizen found incapable by a court or kept in places of confirmation under a court sentence shall have no right to be elected President.
Source: Presidential Election Act, article 3(5).
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:40:08 GMT

e. In both presidential and legislative elections

Source: Federal Law on Election of the President, article 33(1). Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 37(2).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:53:21 GMT

a. Signature requirement (specify)

b. Deposit requirement (specify)

Comments: Signature and deposit requirement are alternative resolution. Save the case when an electoral deposit has been paid the number of signatures shall be equal to no less than 1% of the total number of voters registered in the territory of the given electoral district. In the event of early elections it shall not be less than 0.5%
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 42.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:54:17 GMT

e. Not applicable

Comments: Members of the Federal Council are appointed.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 15:06:22 GMT

a. Signature requirement (specify)

Comments: 1.000.000 signatures. Not more than 70.000 signatures of the voters who permanently or currently reside in the territory of the given Subject may be collected in anyone of Subject of the Russian Federation
Source: Federal Law on Elections, article 36.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:55:50 GMT

b. Direct

c. Indirect

Comments: Funding of the Election of Deputies of the State Duma 1. Expenses on the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be paid from the funds allocated from the federal budget. 2. Candidates for election to the State Duma, electoral associations, electoral blocs shall set up their own electoral funds for financing their election campaign.
Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62(7). Federal Election Law for the Election of the President of Russian Federation (17th December 1999), article 55(5).
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:57:04 GMT

a. As related to the election period only

Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62(7). Federal Election Law for the Election of of the President of Russian Federation (17th December 1999), article 55(5).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:58:18 GMT

a. Free media access

c. Free state transportation

Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), articles 55 to 58.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:58:59 GMT

a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance

Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), articles 55(1) and 61.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:59:44 GMT

b. Election campaign activities

d. Other

Comments: The resources of electoral funds shall be purpose-oriented. They may be used only for: (1) funding of organizational-technical arrangements for the collection of signatures in support of nomination of a candidate (federal list of candidates) including remuneration of persons who were engaged for collection of voter signatures; (2) election campaigning and payment for information and consulting services; (3) payment for other services rendered by legal entities or citizens of the Russian Federation and other expenses directly related to the conduct of the election campaign; (4) payment of the electoral deposit.
Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62(7).
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:55:59 GMT

a. Yes

Comments: Voluntary donations of individuals and legal entities in the amount not exceeding 100 times (for each citizen) and two thousand times (for each legal entity) the minimum wage established by federal law as of the date on which the decision to call the election was officialy published.
Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62(2).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:03:23 GMT

a. As related to the election period only

Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:03:59 GMT

a. Public disclosure of party contributions received

b. Public disclosure of party expenditure

c. Prohibition on party funding from foreign sources

e. Ceilings on party election expenses

h. Publication or public access to contribution and / or expenditure reports

Comments: The maximum amount of all expenditures from an electoral fund of an electoral association, or an electoral block shall not exceed 250 thousand times the minimum wage established by federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election was officially published.
Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62.
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:41:15 GMT

a. Public disclosure of candidate contributions received

b. Public disclosure of candidate expenditure

c. Prohibition on candidate funding from foreign sources

e. Ceilings on candidate election expenses

h. Publication or public access to contribution and / or expenditure reports

Comments: The maximum amount of all expenditures from an electoral fund of a candidate (registered candidate) from his/her electoral fund shall not exceed 10 thousand times the minimum wage established by federal law as of the date on which the decision to call (hold) the election was officially published.
Source: Federal Election Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma (24th of June 1999), article 62.
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:44:50 GMT

a. National Electoral Management body

Comments: The review-auditing services are performed by the Election Commission in order to exercise control over the correct use of funds.
Source: Parliamentarian Election Act, article 69.
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:47:30 GMT

a. Single ballot (all registered parties listed)

d. Categorical (only one mark allowed)

i. Party symbols in black and white

m. Organized alphabetically

n. Random listing (lottery)

o. Ballots signed or otherwise authenticated by polling station official

q. Multilingual

Comments:
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 71.
Last updated: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 14:01:01 GMT

s. Not applicable

Comments: Members are indirectly selected. The rules for this selection differs in each Subject.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:11:16 GMT

a. Single ballot (all registered parties/candidates listed)

d. Categorical (only possible to make one mark)

f. Same ballot papers used nation-wide

m. Organized alphabetically

o. Ballots signed or otherwise authenticated by polling station officials

q. Multilingual

r. Other

Comments: q) Main rule: Ballots have to be printed in Russian language, but the Subject ballots may also be printed in the official language of the Subject. r) If the candidate has Russian and foreign citizenship, this should be indicated. If the candidate has a conviction that has not expired and has not been cancelled- the name and the number of Criminal Code Article shall be indicated on the ballot
Source: Presidential Election Act, article 62.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:15:15 GMT

a. At the polling stations

Comments: The votes cast by voters shall be counted openly and publicly by the voting members of the precinct election commissions.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 77.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:16:08 GMT

b. Preliminary count of all ballots in ballot box

c. Tally of voters who voted

d. Number of ballots in box reconciled against number of voters

e. Number of ballots reconciled against ballots initially received (minus spoilt and unused)

f. Each ballot paper held up for public scrutiny, with name of party/candidate called out loud

o. Data fed into computer for calculation

p. Copies of results of the count are publicly posted at the counting site immediately on the completion of the count

q. Copies of results are provided to observers

Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 77 and 78.
Last updated: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 14:01:56 GMT

c. District level

Comments: The first copies of the protocols of voting return from a precinct election commission, after they have been signed by all present voting members of the precinct election commission and after, on request, the copies of the protocols of voting returns have been issued to or certified for all persons present at vote counting from among persons indicated in Clause 5 Article 29 of this Federal Law shall be, without delay, forwarded to the appropriate territorial commission and shall not be returned to the precinct election commission.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 77(28)
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:53:40 GMT

b. District level

d. National level

Comments: b) Concerning single-member districts Based on the data of the protocols of voting returns, including the data transmitted via technical communication channels from precinct election commissions set up in the electoral precincts on ships at sea, at polar stations, in remote and hard-to-reach areas or outside the territory of the Russian Federation, after making sure that the protocols have been drawn up correctly, a territorial election commission shall tabulate the voting returns for the given territory by adding up all data contained in the protocols not later than two days after voting day. The data contained in the protocols of precinct election commissions shall be added up directly by the voting members of the territorial election commission. This may be witnessed by the persons indicated in Clause 5 Article 29 of this Federal Law. d) Concerning the federal list.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 78(1)
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:54:05 GMT

a. Physically transported

b. By telephone

d. Telex/Telegraph

f. By computer

Comments: The state automated information system or its separate technical facilities may be used in the election of deputies of the State Duma, specifically, in the registration of voters, compilation of voter lists, tabulation of voting returns and determination of election results for reception, transmission and processing of information. The requirements to the state automated information system and the procedure for its use shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 2. If the appropriate equipment is available, immediately after the protocol of voting returns, protocol of election results has been signed its data shall be transmitted in an electronic form to the higher election commission via technical communication channels of the state automated information system, with a mandatory provision that the first copy of the protocol of voting returns, protocol of election results shall be subsequently submitted to the higher election commission.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, articles 78(1) and 86.
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:54:34 GMT

f. Certificate of result

Comments: Only minutes compiled by election commissions are transported.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 77.
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:54:56 GMT

e. Accompanied by election officials

g. Accompanied by military personnel

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:01:47 GMT

d. By request

e. Court order

f. Other

Comments: f) Upon detection of errors, inconsistencies in the protocol of voting returns and when doubts arise as to the correctness of the protocols from precinct election commission the territotial election commission may resolve that the precinct elects the commission to carry out votes recounting or that the given territorial commission itself recounts the votes.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 78.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:27:17 GMT

e. Not applicable

Comments: Results are not automatically recounted.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 78.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 16:26:45 GMT

c. Election officials

f. Other

Comments: f) court.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:02:33 GMT

a. National Election Management body

b. Regional Election Management body

c. Local Election Management body

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:02:58 GMT

a. Yes

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:03:27 GMT

a. hours: 15

Comments: 10-15 hours
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:03:54 GMT

a. Yes

Comments:
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 85.
Last updated: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 14:03:22 GMT

c. weeks:

Comments: 2-3 weeks
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:04:36 GMT

a. National Electoral Management Body

b. Regional Electoral Management Bodies

c. Local/County Electoral Management Bodies

g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations

h. Political parties/ candidates

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 14:52:31 GMT

b. Election time only

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 14:54:41 GMT

l. Other

Comments: Russian Center of Electoral Technology at the Central Electoral Commission of Russian Federation.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 14:55:44 GMT

a. Poster/ Billboard campaigns

b. Media advertisement

e. Public meetings

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 14:58:08 GMT

a. Poster/ Billboard campaigns

b. Media advertisement

e. Public meetings

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 14:59:34 GMT

b. Young people/ first time voters

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 15:01:55 GMT

b. No

Comments: There is no separate act that regulates conduct of election officials but such rules are laid down in all acts connected with elections.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 18:59:01 GMT

c. At any polling station in the same country

e. At mobile polling stations

Comments: c) Voter can vote at any polling station in case they obtained an Absentee Certificate e) Only during the early voting if the person has an Absentee Certificate. Members of precinct election commission visit the persons who are not able to come on their own. A precinct election commission shall have the necessary number (but not more than three) portable ballot boxes to conduct voting and the number of such boxes to be determined by a decision of the appropriate territorial election commission.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 73 to 75.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:25:30 GMT

b. Citizens residing outside the country

c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)

d. Members of the armed forces

e. Students

f. Diplomatic staff

Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 16(4).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:26:09 GMT

a. Embassies

b. Consulates

c. Special polling stations

Comments: Citizens of the Russian Federation who reside outside the territory of the Russian Federation or stay abroad on prolonged business trips shall be included on voter lists if the fact of their permanent or current residence outside the territory of the Russian Federation or prolonged business trips abroad is established by diplomatic or consular missions of the Russian Federation. Special polling stations may be organized for example on the ships
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 16(4).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:27:00 GMT

b. Yes

Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 74.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:27:38 GMT

a. At special advance polling centers

e. Other

Comments: A district election commission may allow all voters in one of or several electoral precincts on ships at sea on voting day, at polar station, in other remote and hard-to-reach areas to vote early but not earlier than 15 days prior to voting day. f) Voting outside the voting premises.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 74.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:29:16 GMT

c. People in remote areas

f. Other

Comments: A district election commission may allow all voters in one or several electoral precincts on ships at sea on voting day, at polar stations, in other remote and hard-to-reach areas to vote early but not earlier than 15 days prior to voting day. Separate groups of voters of a military unit may be allowed to vote early by a permission of the district election commission agreed with the election commission of a Subject of the Russian Federation, if such groups are going to be located far from voting premises on voting day due to the performance of the tasks of military service (on alert missions, on guard duty, etc.).
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 74. http://www2.essex.ac.uk/elect/legicurrent.htm
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:31:37 GMT

a. Yes

Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 14(3).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:32:21 GMT

a. Yes, the maximum capacity is: 3.000

Comments:
Source: Federal Law ont he Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter II, article 14(3)
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:35:53 GMT

a. By manually marking the ballot

Comments: On the ballot for voting in the federal electoral district, voters shall put any mark in the blank box to the right of the name of the electoral association or electoral block whose federal list of candidates they vote for, or in the box placed to the right of the words "Against all federal lists of candidates". On the ballot for voting in a single-mandate electoral district, voters shall put any mark in the blank box to the right of the name of the registered candidate he/she votes for, or in the box to the right of the words "Against all candidates".
Source: Federal Law ont he Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter X, article 73(11).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:37:19 GMT

a. The smallest polling station: 3
b. The largest polling station: 15

Comments: Up to 1.000 registered voters 3 to 7 staff members and over 2.000, 5 to 15 members. 1.001 to 2.000 registered voters: 5 to 11 staff members. over 2.000 registered voters: 5 to 15 staff members.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chapter IV, article 21(2)
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:41:12 GMT

a. hours: 80

Comments: Two weeks.
Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 18:59:37 GMT

a. hours: Two weeks

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 19:00:02 GMT

c. 18

Comments: A citizen of the Russian Federation who has attained the age of 18 years old on voting day shall be entitled to elect deputies of the State Duma in the federal electoral district.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 4(1).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:08:44 GMT

a. Citizenship

Comments: A citizen of the Russian Federation, who has attained the age of 18 years old on voting day, and who permanently or currently resides in the territory of the given electoral district shall be entitled to elect a deputy of the State Duma in a single-mandate electoral district.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 4(2).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:10:25 GMT

a. Criminal Incarceration

d. Mental disability

Comments:
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 4(5).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:12:10 GMT

c. Local Government Authority

Comments: The registration of voters referendum participants shall be effected by the Head of a municipal unit, (if this office is not provided by the charter of the municipal unit, by a person duly authorized by a body of local self-government), the commander of a military unit, the Head of a diplomatic mission, consular establishment of the Russian Federation as of January 1 and July 1 of each year with the utilization of the State Automated System of the Russian Federation. 5. The federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive branch of Subjects of the Russian Federation shall render assistance to the bodies of local self-government and election commissions in registering voters, referendum participants and updating the data on registered voters, referendum participants.
Source: Law on Basis Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, article 17(4-5).
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 15:07:06 GMT

b. Voters register

Comments: All citizens of the Russian Federation who are eligible to vote shall be included on voters list.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 16(1).
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:16:08 GMT

c. Periodically (or before each election)

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 18:56:07 GMT

b. Links to police records of residence

e. Appearance by voter at registration office

g. Data matching with other agencies information

Comments: Voter lists shall be compiled by appropriate election commissions separately for each electoral precinct in accordance with the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. A territorial election commission shall compile voter lists not later than 26 days prior to voting day on the basis of voter data furnished by the head of a municipal unit (if the charter of a municipal unit does not provide for this office by a person authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government), the commanding officer of a military unit, the head of an institution where voters are temporarily staying. Having received the voter list a precinct election commission shall check and update the list on the basis of personal applications from citizens in accordance with Clause 17 of this Federal Law, appropriate documents of the bodies of local self-government, officials, registries, bodies in charge of registration of Russian Federation citizens at the place where the citizens stay and reside within the Russian Federation. The checked and updated voter list shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission and certified by the commissions seal not later than the day preceding voting day. Examination of Voter Lists by Voters: 1. Voter lists shall be made available by precinct election commissions to general public for examination and additional correction not later than 20 days prior to voting day. 2. A citizen of the Russian Federation eligible to vote has the right to state to a precinct election commission that he/she has not been put on the voter list and inform the commission about any error or inaccuracy therein. Within 24 hours, and, on voting day, within two hours after this statement is made and not later than the end of voting, the precinct election commission shall check the statement and the submitted documents and shall either remove the error and inaccuracy or give the voter a written answer indicating the reasons why the statement was rejected. 3. The decision of a precinct election commission to include or not to include a citizen on the voter list may be appealed in a higher election commission or in a court (at the place where the precinct election commission is located) and these bodies must consider the complaint (statement) within three days or immediately, if the complaint is filed within three days prior to or on voting day. In the event of a decision in favor of the applicant, the precinct election commission shall immediately make the necessary correction in the voter list.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, articles 15 and 17.
Last updated: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:33:26 GMT

a. Yes

Comments: All citizens of the Russian Federation who are eligible to vote shall be included on voter lists.
Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, article 16.
Last updated: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:19:25 GMT

a. Percentage: 100%

Source: Mr. Evgeny I. Kolushin- Member of the Central Election Commission. Tel.:+373-2-232-597
Last updated: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 18:56:48 GMT