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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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