SEPTEMBER 9, 2001 – THE ELECTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Resolution

of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Elections and Conducting Republican Referenda

On Determination of the Order of Exploiting of the State-run Mass Media During Preparing and Conducting the Elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus in 2001

In accordance with the clause 8 of the article 33, part 7 of the article 46 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus the Central Commissions of the Republic of Belarus on Elections and Conducting Republican Referenda (further – the Central Commission) decrees:

To determine the following order of exploiting the state-run mass media during preparing and conducting the elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus in 2001:

1. The candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus has a right to publish his pre-election program in the following republican newspapers: “

The volume of the pre-election program shall not exceed five typewritten pages (140 lines and 65 symbols per line).

Texts of the pre-election programs the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be presented to the editorial offices of newspapers not later than 20 days before elections. At publishing of pre-election programs shall be observed the order of priority of its receiving which shall be determined on the basis of separate registration in the editorial offices with specification of the date and time of receiving of pre-election programs.

2. On the basis of the limits of time given to the Central Commission by the National State TV and Radio Company of the republic of Belarus a candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall has a right for two appears at the republican state TV and for two appears at the first program of the republican radio. Duration of one appearance – not longer than 30 minutes.

3. Within the limits of the presented time in air the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus on their own defines the content of pre-election reports. The time in air presented may be used by a candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus or at his commissions – by one of his trusted persons.

4. The time in air for appearances of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be given at working days since August 21, 2001 on republican TV – since 18:30 till 19:30, and on the republican radio – since 8 till 9 AM.

5. The date and time of air with pre-election reports of each of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be defined in accordance with casting of lots to be conducted by the Central Commission not later than three days after the registration of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus.

The application for participation in the casting of lots the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall bring to the Central Commission not later then the day after registration.

The Central Commission shall inform the candidates about the date, time and place of the casting of lots conducting.

A candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall has a right to delegate for participation in the casting of lots the head of the initiative group of citizens on his nomination for the President of the Republic of Belarus.

6. On the results of the casting of lots conducting the Central Commission makes a protocol and the schedule of the air time distribution, which on the next day after the casting of lots shall be passed to the National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus.

7. The National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus shall secure the needed professional preparation of broadcasts with pre-election reports of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus (studio design, technical support, broadcasting). The National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus shall inform about the time of air of the said broadcastings.

8. TV and radio broadcasts with pre-election reports of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be on air in record. The recording shall be in time defined by the National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus, its manager points employees responsible for recording of broadcasts with pre-election reports of candidates.

Video & audio recording of pre-election reports shall be stored during 6 months since the day of coming on air.

9. In the case of denial of the National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus in providing a candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus with the broadcasting time on the republican TV and radio, violation of the principle of equal possibilitiesof providing with a broadcasting time, by the demand the Central Commission the candidate shall be given another broadcasting time.

In the case of failure with a broadcasting, and also not full use of the broadcasting time given due to the fault of the candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus the missed (not fully used) broadcasting time shall not be restored.

10. Disputes on the questions of the mass media use during preparing and conducting elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be considered by the Observing Council on Information Disputes by the Central Commission.

Chairman of the Commission	L.Ermoshina
Secretary of the Commission	N. Losovik

* unofficial translation *