Regulation on the Election Advertising during Elections of Jogorku Kenesh Deputies in the Kyrgyz Republic

 

Approved by the Resolution No. 118 of the Central Election Commission on conducting elections and referenda in the Kyrgyz Republic of June 26, 2020

 

REGULATION

on the Election Advertising during Elections of Jogorku Kenesh Deputies in the Kyrgyz Republic

Chapter 1. Concepts and timing of electoral campaigning

1. This Regulation on the Election Advertising during Elections of Jogorku Kenesh Deputies in the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation) regulates the procedure and terms of pre-election campaigning, as well as participation of election commissions, government authorities, local self-government, mass media and online outlets in Jogorku Kenesh election advertising.

2. The objectives of this Regulation aim at ensuring uniform application of the election legislation during pre-election campaigning implemented by the Kyrgyz citizens, political parties and other election actors, to ensure free advertising pursuant to the election legislation and laws of the Kyrgyz Republic.

3. This Regulation is developed based on the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Constitutional Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Constitutional Law); the Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic on Election Commissions for Conducting Elections and Referenda in the Kyrgyz Republic; on the Protection of the Professional Activities of Journalists; on Mass Media; on Guarantees and Free Access to Information; on Peaceful Assembly, and other laws and acts of the Central Election Commission.

4. Pre-election campaigning means the actions of the Kyrgyz citizens, candidates, authorized representatives and agents of political parties on preparation and dissemination of information during the election campaign, aimed at encouraging or inducing voters to vote for or against this or that list of candidates.

5. Pre-election campaign shall begin on the day when registration of all candidate lists is completed, and shall be terminated 24 hours prior to the commencement of voting.

6. During elections, the State ensures the rights for the Kyrgyz citizens, political parties to free campaigning in accordance with the Constitutional Law, laws of the Kyrgyz Republic, other legal framework and this Regulation.

7. The Kyrgyz citizens and political parties have the right to conduct campaigns encouraging to participate in elections, for or against any list of candidates, and to freely and comprehensively discuss the electoral programmes of political parties in compliance with the electoral legislation.

8. During the election campaign, the Kyrgyz citizens and political parties have the right to campaign, requiring funding, only upon prior consent of the political parties nominating candidates, and through their election funds.

Campaigning may be conducted at meetings, rallies, in mass media, or online. Campaigning forms and methods shall comply with the Kyrgyz Republic legislation.

9. The following actions shall be recognized as the election campaign:

1) appeal to vote for or against one or another list of candidates;

2) preference for certain political parties;

3) illustration of possible consequences with regard to electing or failure to elect a list of candidates;

4) dissemination of information on candidates’ activity outside their profession or official duties (functions).

10. During elections, election advertising can be implemented:

1) in mass media;

2) within promotional public events (rallies, meetings, television debates), with the exception of concerts and theater performances in stadiums or streets, or sports events;

3) through the production and dissemination of printed, audio-visual and other election advertising;

4) in other forms that are not prohibited by the Constitutional Law.

11. The following actors shall not be entitled to campaign, produce or disseminate any election advertising materials:

- civil servants or municipal servants;

- persons holding public political office, with exception of the Jogorku Kenesh deputies;

- persons holding public and political municipal office, except for the local kenesh (council) deputies;

- election commission members;

- observers;

- international observers;

- religious leaders;

- charitable organizations’ founders or members;

- persons under 18 years of age;

- foreign nationals and organizations;

- stateless persons.

Chapter 2. Campaigning Specifics among PWD Voters

12. Political parties have the right to issue and disseminate printed, audio-visual and other campaign materials in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the Kyrgyz Republic law.

The political parties’ campaign materials interpreted in sign language or subtitled, printed in large, easy-to-read fonts, as well as in Braille or other special facilities for voters with disabilities shall amount at least 1 per cent of total print runs.

It is prohibited to produce campaign materials outside the Kyrgyz Republic. Copies of printed or any other campaign materials or copies thereof shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission.

Chapter 3. Election Advertising in the Media and Online Outlets

13. Mass media and online outlets having the Central Election Commission accreditation shall be entitled to participate in the pre-election campaign.

14. Political parties shall be guaranteed equal access to mass media.

15. Political parties shall have the right to independently determine the form and nature of their campaigning in the media.

16. A political party shall not use the airtime, printed materials, campaigning in television broadcasters’ channels to:

1) appeal to vote against a political party;

2) illustrate possible negative consequences if one or another political party is elected;

3) disseminate information obviously containing any candidate’s data (any candidates’ data from the registered political party list), any political party data, combined with negative comments;

4) disseminate information contributing to negative voters’ attitudes towards any candidate from the registered political party list, or a political party.

17. Speeches of representatives of political parties shall not be interrupted or accompanied by any comments.

18. Election advertising in foreign media distributed in the Kyrgyz Republic shall be prohibited. During elections, recorded foreign television and radio programmes shall be rebroadcast. Rebroadcast of television and radio programmes disseminating information that is an affront to honour, dignity and business reputation of candidates and political parties shall be prohibited. In this case, the local media shall be responsible for disseminating this information.

19. In accordance with the Constitutional Law, journalists, other artistic intellectuals and media editorial board’s officials shall be prohibited from conducting television and radio news programmes, or covering elections in these media or online outlets, if they are the media founders or online outlets’ owners, concurrently being candidates or their representatives. This rule shall not apply to presentations of the above persons during free airtime on public or local television and radio channels as provided for in this Regulation.

20. Mass media or online outlets founded (co-founded, owned) by the State or local self-government or their subordinate agencies or enterprises, and financed fully or mostly from the national or local budgets, as well as mass media with tax relief or mandatory payments allowances compared to other mass media shall provide equal opportunities for political parties to campaign.

21. Mass media and online outlets that are not covered in this Regulation, paragraph 20 shall have the right to grant airtime and print space to political parties on a contractual basis.

The fee for airtime, publication in periodicals or online outlets shall be the same for all political parties.

22. During the election campaign, payment for commercial or non-electoral advertising using candidates’ names or images, as well as names, emblems or any other symbols of political parties nominating candidates shall be made only from the respective election fund. On the election day and the day preceding the polling day, this advertising, including advertising paid through the election fund, shall not be allowed.

23. During elections, the relevant TV and radio broadcasters, the editorial boards of the printed periodical outlets, online outlet owners shall, for accreditation purposes, submit information on payment amount and other terms for airtime, print space or online publishing right provision to the Central Election Commission no later than 20 calendar days from the official publication of the decision to call the election.

The Central Election Commission shall publish the submitted information on its official website for public access no later than 25 days from the official publication of the decision to call the election.

24. Television and radio broadcasters, online outlets and editorial boards of periodical printed publications (regardless of their form of ownership), providing airtime, print space or online publishing rights to political parties nominating registered candidates shall keep separate records of their volume and cost based on the records forms and procedures enshrined in this Regulation. The records data shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission every 10 days during the pre-election campaign and within 10 days after the polling day.

If requested by the Central Election Commission, the media editorial board shall submit written information within three days from the request date, and copies of the requested materials, if required.

3.1. Television and Radio Election Advertising

25. Mass media or online outlets founded (co-founded, owned) by the State or local self-government or their subordinate agencies or enterprises, and financed fully or mostly from the national or local budget, as well as mass media with tax relief or mandatory payments allowances compared to other mass media that broadcast in areas where elections take place shall provide free airtime to political parties nominating registered candidates. The airtime shall be during prime time, that is between 8 p.m. and midnight.

26. The total free airtime provided by the state television or radio broadcasters for election advertising of the Jogorku Kenesh Deputies shall be at least 1 hour during working days. The free airtime shall be equally distributed among the registered political parties nominating their candidates, who showed up for a given program.

27. Television and radio broadcasters subject to this Regulation, paragraph 20 shall reserve paid airtime for political parties’ campaigning depending on the election level. In this case, the airtime shall be granted to and paid for by the relevant political party on contractual basis, upon its request. The total reserved paid airtime shall not be less than the total free airtime, and the fee shall be the same for all political parties. However, each political party shall be entitled to the reserved airtime share in proportion that equals the total reserved airtime divided by the total number of political parties.

28. The cost of paid airtime granted to a political party shall not exceed the fee charged 6 months before the day to call the election.

29. TV and radio broadcasters, regardless of their form of ownership granting airtime to political parties shall grant airtime to other political parties on the same terms (the same fee, time of airing, airtime duration and other conditions).

30. The procedure, duration and timing of radio and television programs scheduled for election advertising shall be established by election commissions in consultation with the relevant television and radio management, and shall be distributed by lots, upholding the principle of equality among political parties.

31. The Central Election Commission shall inform the registered political parties nominating lists of candidates of the date, time and place of lot drawing and shall register their applications to receive free airtime and print space by lots at least three calendar days before the date of lots drawing.

The Central Election Commission with representatives of the relevant television and radio broadcasters shall draw lots to determine free election advertising airtime date and airing time to be granted to the registered political parties, as well as joint campaigning on the State television and radio broadcasters’ channels. The lots shall be drawn upon completion of candidate lists’ registration, but not later than 35 calendar days before the polling day. The lots results shall be registered in the report. The Election Commission shall approve the airtime allocation schedule by lots in its decision, and the schedule will be published in the state periodicals, accordingly.

3.2. Procedure for the Organization and Holding of Debates

32. The political parties nominating the lists of candidates shall be entitled to free airtime on television and radio broadcasters’ channels covered in this Regulation, paragraph 20, that are broadcasting in the area where elections take place. The airtime shall be during prime time, that is between 8 p.m. and midnight.

The total free airtime provided by the state television or radio broadcaster for election advertising of the Jogorku Kenesh Deputies shall be at least 1 hour during working days. The free airtime shall be equally distributed among the registered political parties nominating their candidates, by drawing lots.

At least half of the total free airtime shall be allocated to political parties nominating lists of candidates solely for joint debates or other similar election advertising. All political parties shall have equal share of free airtime.

Joint debates and other similar election advertising shall be held at the national level.

Joint debates and other similar election advertising may also be implemented through regional television and radio broadcasters covered in this Regulation, paragraph 20.

33. Debates can be held for all political parties simultaneously or separately for groups of political parties, if the television or radio company premises do not allow to accommodate all political parties’ representatives simultaneously. The debate groups composition shall be determined by drawing lots.

33. Candidates from the registered list of political parties shall participate only in person in debates or other similar events on the television and radio channels of organizations broadcasting throughout the Kyrgyz Republic.

The registered political party representatives and support groups shall not participate in these events.

No airtime shall be allowed at any other time in the event of refusal or failure to attend a joint election advertising.

34. All political parties shall be granted equal presentation time during the debate. Time spent on questions to opponents shall also be included in the total.

The use of allocated time can be monitored during the program (each television and radio broadcaster shall set a timer and monitor the time of candidates). Each respective television and radio broadcaster shall be responsible for time recording.

If a candidate exceeds the time limit allocated for a particular round, this time shall be deducted from the total candidate’s time.

34. Debates usually consist of the following components:

1) presentation of the political party programme;

2) questions and answers

(The Central Election Commission will send questions for candidates to be asked during live television debates in sealed envelopes, additionally placed in security bags, and they will be opened during live debates. Candidates will choose the envelopes with questions at random.

The Central Election Commission shall prepare equal number of questions to be distributed in equal proportion among the participants);

3) Speakers’ questions to each other (the number of questions shall be determined based on the number of debate participants (candidates from a political party list);

4) Appeal to voters (the remaining time in the allocated time share).

35. The debate participants shall not be entitled to use the airtime for the purposes referred to in this Regulation, paragraph 16.

36. The election debate participant shall:

- keep within the time allotted for each debate component;

- not exceed the time limit on statements;

- not violate the debate procedure;

- engage in ethical debate.

37. The debate moderator shall ensure the procedure for holding debates.

3.3. Election Advertising in Print Media and Online Outlets

38. Periodical print media, as well as online outlets subject to this Regulation, paragraph 20, and distributed in the area where elections take place, except for outlets established by the State or local self-government solely to publish official communications and materials, legal framework or other regulatory acts, shall allocate equal free printed or, respectively, online space to political parties’ materials in the size of at least one page A4 format. Specialized print or online outlets (for children, technical, scientific or other) shall have the right to refuse to publish any election advertising on condition of their non-participation in the election campaign in any form.

39. Printed or online publications, regardless of their form of ownership, which have granted printed or electronic space to political parties shall provide printed or electronic space to other political parties under the same conditions (the same price, volume or any other conditions). In this case, the cost of printed or electronic space shall not exceed the fee that was charged 6 months prior to the day to call the elections.

40. Printed campaigning materials (leaflets, posters, billboards and other materials) previously placed outside the buildings and premises of election commissions shall remain in their previous location on the polling day.

 

Chapter 4 Production and Dissemination of Printed, Audio-visual and other Election Campaigning Materials

 

41. Political parties shall have the right to publish and disseminate printed, audio-visual and other election campaigning materials in accordance with the procedure established by the law of the Kyrgyz Republic. Production of election campaigning materials outside the Kyrgyz Republic shall be prohibited. Copies of printed or any other election campaigning materials or there copies thereof shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission.

42. All printed and other campaign materials shall contain the name and address of the organization (the person’s full name and residence address) producing the election campaigning materials; the person’s full name (organization or individual entrepreneur name) ordering the production of election campaigning materials; information on the print run and date; payment information for the production from the respective election fund, as well as the full name of the authorized political party representative who made payment. Dissemination of election campaigning materials that do not contain the above information shall be prohibited.

Production of election campaigning materials without advance payment from the relevant electoral fund or in violation of this Chapter provisions shall be prohibited.

43. Local self-government shall be obliged to allocate and equip the location for election campaigning materials display at each polling station within 10 calendar days from the day to call the elections.

44. Placing of election advertising on monuments, obelisks and buildings of historical, cultural or architectural value, in election commissions’ facilities, or at their entrance, as well as in the voting areas shall be prohibited.

Monuments, obelisks and buildings of historical, cultural or architectural value are historical and cultural heritage associated with historical events in the life of the people, the development of the society and the State; they are material and spiritual works. Historical and cultural monuments owned by the Kyrgyz Republic and its entities are protected by the State.

As provided for in the Kyrgyz  Republic Law on Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage, immovable and movable (in whole or in part) historical testimonies shall be recognized as objects of historical and cultural heritage:

1) Immovable, including:

- Historical monuments: buildings, structures, memorial sites, historical necropolises and memorials associated with the most important historical events in the life of the people, the development of the society and the State, science and technology, culture and everyday life of the peoples, as well as the life of outstanding Kyrgyz nationals;

- Archaeological monuments: caves, man sites, fortified settlements, tepe, tortkul, remains of ancient settlements, fortification lines or facilities, both terrestrial and underwater, ancient industries and mines, canals and irrigation systems, roads and bridges, individual mounds and necropolis, rock carvings and rock epigraphs;

- Urban and architectural monuments: architectural ensembles and complexes; historical centers; quarters; squares; streets; remains of ancient layout and town or settlement housing; civil, industrial, military, ecclesiastical and folk architecture facilities, as well as the associated works of monumental, pictorial arts, ornamental, garden art, and other art forms.

45. The use of vegetation, trees, slopes and tops of mountains or hills or any other natural elevations to accommodate any kind of election advertising shall not be permitted.

46. Local self-government shall ensure that campaigning materials are removed from the areas concerned within 10 calendar days after the election results publication.

47. The Central Election Commission, notified of the dissemination of the forged campaigning materials or advertising that do not contain the information specified in this Regulation, paragraph 42 shall take measures to suppress this activity and apply to the relevant law enforcement or other bodies to tackle illegal campaigning and confiscate illegal advertising materials.

48. Printed advertising/campaigning materials may be displayed (posted or placed) in premises, buildings, structures and facilities only with the consent and under the terms proposed by the facilities owners.

49. Citizens shall be liable for destroying, damaging or spoiling printed, audio-visual or other campaigning materials in accordance with the law.

50. Radio election advertising shall not be subject to this Regulation, paragraph 42.

Chapter 5. Election Advertising within Mass Events

51. The State authorities and local self-government shall assist political parties in organizing assemblies and meetings with citizens, public debates and discussions, rallies, demonstrations and marches, as well as ensure security during mass events.

52. Political parties shall have the right to provide premises for assemblies and meetings with voters, public debates and discussions.

The public and local authorities shall consider applications from political parties requesting the state-owned or municipal premises to be provided for meetings with voters on the day of submission.

If the political party request for meeting voters’ premises is rejected, the state authority or local self-government shall provide a written reasoned decision of their refusal.

If the premises have been made available for public gatherings of one of the political parties, the refusal to grant the same premises to the other political party shall be inadmissible.

53. The State-owned or municipal premises on the balance sheets of public enterprises, institutions or organizations shall be provided for candidates’, political party representatives’, their authorized agents’ meetings with voters on equal terms.

54. Political parties shall also have the right to rent premises in any form of ownership for mass events on a contractual basis, for a fee. The rent fee set by the premises’ owner shall be the same for all political parties, and payments shall be made exclusively from the election funds.

55. Political parties shall observe the rules when campaigning through rallies, demonstrations, marches, stipulated by the law of the Kyrgyz Republic; notify state authorities and local self-governments of the mass event place, time, the expected number of participants, and the route; they shall not carry weapons or any life or health threatening items; they shall not use campaigning to call for overthrow of the constitutional order, violation of the State integrity; to incite the national and religious hatred; to make pro-war and violence propaganda, or any other prohibited appeals.

56. The peaceful assembly participants and organizers shall comply with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Peaceful Assemblies, and observe peacefulness of the assembly.

57. Organizers shall notify of the planned peaceful assembly in writing no earlier than 30 days and no later than 2 working days prior to the event. Notification may be submitted in the form of a letter, telegram, telephone message by mail, fax, electronic or other communication facilities, or in any other way or form.

Notification shall include the organizer’s data (the organization name and (or) full name of the person) and his/her contact information (location of the organization and (or) address, telephone number of the person); information on the event venue and (or) the route; date and time it begins and ends; its purpose; approximate number of participants; the use of any sound devices or any other items during the peaceful assembly. The organizer of the peaceful assembly shall have the right to include any other information in the notification, as well as to attach any other documents.

58. Persons notifying of the peaceful assembly shall have the right to request for, and the state authorities or local self-government shall be obliged to provide a written acknowledgement of notification receipt on the day it was accepted.

The written acknowledgement of the state authority or local self-government shall include the full name and signature of the official who received this notification, as well as the receipt date and time.

59. Peaceful assemblies may be held elsewhere in the Kyrgyz Republic. In order to ensure the safety of participants, peaceful assemblies shall not be held near (at least 100 meters away) hazardous and harmful industrial facilities, power plants, railroads, oil pipelines and high voltage power lines, penitentiary facilities, the national and municipal health care organizations, kindergartens, and preschool and general educational establishments.

 

Chapter 6. Functions of Election Commissions, State Authorities and Local Self-Government with regard to Election Advertising

60. Election commissions shall monitor compliance with the established election advertising procedures, and take corrective measures to address any violations.

61. The Central Election Commission shall:

- timely notify and inform mass media and online outlets on deadlines to publish and provide information on the airtime or printed space fee, as well as any other terms during campaigning;

- provide information and guidance to media and online outlets with regard to electoral legislation and election campaigning rules;

- accept and register documents received from media and online outlets;

- post lists of media and online outlets participating in election campaigning for the Jogorku Kenesh Deputies on the official website of the Central Election Commission;

- publish electoral political parties’ programmes.

62. Election Commissions’ members shall be entitled to attend political parties’ pre-election campaigns.

63. The election commission being informed on dissemination of forged campaigning materials or materials that do not contain information as provided for in the law, shall take measures to suppress this activity and apply to the relevant law enforcement or other bodies to tackle illegal campaigning and confiscate illegal advertising materials.

64. The State authorities and local self-government shall assist political parties in organizing assemblies and meetings with citizens, public debates and discussions, rallies, demonstrations and marches, as well as ensure security during mass events.

65. The State authorities and local self-government shall ensure equal campaigning opportunities for all political parties.

However, public and local self-government officials shall not be involved in campaigning, or production and dissemination of any campaigning materials.

66. For the purposes of election advertising, the state authorities and local self-government shall allocate entirely satisfactory premises to hold meetings, and space or place to display campaigning materials using the national budget resources.

67. Local self-government shall allocate and equip each polling station with special place to display campaigning materials within 10 calendar days from the day to call elections.

Political parties shall be provided with equal opportunities for campaigning materials placement. Campaigning materials’ location shall be available and accessible for voters to familiarize with the information contained therein.

Equal space shall be allocated to the registered candidates to post pre-election campaigning materials. The allocated area shall be sufficient to accommodate election commission information materials and political parties campaigning materials.

Political parties shall obtain a list of allocated places for printed pre-election campaigning materials in the relevant territorial election commission.

Chapter 7. Inadmissibility of Campaigning Right Abuse

68. Election commissions shall monitor compliance with the established election advertising procedures, and take corrective measures to address any violations.

69. Election campaigning shall not be subject to media freedom abuse, and the following action shall be prohibited:

-Propaganda, which arouses national, ethnic, racial, religious, or interreligious hatred, or gender or any other social supremacy, and calls for discrimination and hatred;

- Appeals to power seizure, violent overthrow of the constitutional order, and violation of the State integrity;

- War propaganda;

- Public events involving foreign statesmen or politicians with media coverage;

- Use of photographs and videos portraying foreign statesmen or politicians;

- Other forms of media freedom abuse prohibited by the law of the Kyrgyz Republic.

70. Vote buying shall be prohibited from the day to call elections through:

- paying out money;

- giving gifts or other material values;

- promotional price sale;

- any free goods dissemination, except for printed election advertising materials, badges, T-shirts, headdresses, scarves containing symbols of the political party nominating the list of candidates, or the candidate image from the list approved by the Central Election Commission;

- services provided free of charge or on favourable terms.

The Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic criminalizes the vote buying/bribery (CC KR, art. 192). Payment through the political party’s electoral fund for work performed under a written employment agreement between the political party and the contractor shall not be recognized as vote buying/bribe.

71. Candidates, their close relatives, spouses and political parties’ representatives shall not engage in charitable activities from the day to call elections and until the election results’ publication.

Pursuant to the Kyrgyz Republic Law on Patronage and Charity Activity, charity activities are defined as voluntary actions of citizens and legal entities to selflessly (gratuitously or on preferential terms) transfer property, including money, selfless work, services or any other support to citizens or legal entities.

According to the law, close relatives are: parents, children, adoptive parents, adopted children, full and half-blood siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

72. In accordance with the Kyrgyz Republic Law on Jubilee Events in the Kyrgyz Republic, jubilees shall not be arranged three months prior and during the Presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic, elections of the Kyrgyz Jogorku Kenesh Deputies, and local kenesh (council) deputies.

73. Information or other materials containing the name (full or abbreviated), emblems, badges, logo or specific components, flags, mottoes, slogans  and/or other identifiable (determining their identity) political parties’ attributes (symbols) disseminated by political parties nominating lists of candidates or registered as election participants or by their representatives shall be considered election advertising, that is not permissible from the day to call elections and until completion of lists of candidates registration, as well as 24 hours prior to the vote beginning.

Placement of the political party name (full or abbreviated), emblem, logo, badge, flag and/or other attributes (symbols) on their headquarter buildings or premises shall not be recognized as election campaigning.

74. Political parties’ representatives, mass media, other election participants shall avoid publications based on knowingly false information and offending honour, dignity or business reputation of candidates in the list or political parties. Mass media, online outlets publishing this information shall, upon the candidate’s request, publish free-of-charge a correction or clarification regarding false or misleading article or speech.

Correction or clarification shall be published on the same page, the same electronic space and in the same font as the information being corrected or clarified, for periodicals - in the next issue; for online outlets - on the day of correction or clarification receipt; for television or radio – the following day broadcast after correction or clarification receipt. Airtime for public disclosure of the correction or clarification  shall be allocated to the candidate, political party at the same time when the initial information was made public, and the airtime shall be either equal to the airtime of the original information, or no less than two minutes.

75. Failure to provide an opportunity for a political party to publish correction or clarification protecting their reputation before expiration of election advertising period and within the terms specified in this Regulation, paragraph 74 in mass media or online outlet that has published information damaging the political party reputation could constitute the ground to hold media or online outlet accountable according to the law of the Kyrgyz Republic, and withdraw their accreditation at the Central Election Commission.

76. If political parties or their representatives, media or online outlets violate this Chapter, the election commissions, voters, political parties or their representatives, media shall have the right to request law enforcement bodies and the court to suppress illegal campaigning, and prosecute the offenders according to the law of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Chapter 8. Legal Responsibility for Election Advertising Violations

77. The Central Election Commission shall monitor compliance with the established procedure for election campaigning and takes measures to address violations. If the political party violates this Regulation, the relevant election commission shall have the right to issue a written warning letter of violation. In case of repeated political party’s violations (two or more) of election campaigning procedures stipulated in this Regulation, the relevant election commission shall make them accountable in accordance with the Code of Violations of the Kyrgyz Republic.

In case of election advertising violations specified in this Regulation, paragraph 69, confirmed by the act of the relevant state authority, the Central Election Commission shall have the right to cancel registration of the list of candidates.

In case of dissemination of forged printed audio-visual or other campaigning materials in violation of this Regulation, or in case of campaigning procedure violation stipulated in this Regulation by television or radio broadcaster, periodical’s editorial board, online outlet editorial board, the Central Election Commission shall request law enforcement authorities, the court, or the authorized state authority in the field of information policy, including electronic and mass communications, information technology and communications, to suppress illegal campaigning, confiscate illegal campaigning materials, and prosecute television or radio broadcaster, print periodical’s editorial board, online outlet editorial board, their officials, or any other persons in accordance with the law.

78. The Central Election Commission shall establish the working group informing voters and other election actors on election campaigning rules and ensuring compliance with election campaigning rules.

79. Based on the written instruction of the Central Election Commission, the audit team shall monitor compliance with the established procedure for financing political parties’ election campaign, monitor compliance with the established procedure for financing election campaign of political parties.

80. Law enforcement and other bodies shall suppress illegal campaigning; prevent production of forged or illegal print, audiovisual and other campaigning materials, and confiscate them; identify producers of these materials and their funding source; and immediately inform the relevant election commission on their findings and measures taken.