Armenia
Question | Value |
---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from foreign states, corporate entities, physical persons who are not Armenian citizens, as well as anonymous sources are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 26, Sections 2-4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from legal persons (corporate entities) are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 26, Sections 2-4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from legal persons (corporate entities) are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 26, Sections 2-4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from anonymous sources are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 26, Sections 2-4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from legal persons (corporate entities) are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 115, Section 2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations to political parties from legal persons (corporate entities) are explicitly banned. Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to candidates can only be made by the political party, the candidates themselves, or individuals with the right to vote. Donations made by any other physical or legal person are transferred to the state budget. Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 26, Sections 2-4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Party members who occupy official positions in state bodies cannot use the financial, material or human resources allocated to them as part of their official responsibilities for the benefit of their political party. In addition, all civil servants are prohibited from using their position to advantage a political party. Source
Article 6, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. Article 32, Section 1, Part 3, RA Law on the Civil Service, 2021. |
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
Each physical person (individual) may donate up 2,500,000 AMD per year to a political party, or split among multiple political parties. This limit does not including donations made directly to a campaign fund during an election period.
Source
Article 24, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Each physical person (individual) may donate up 2,500,000 AMD per year to a political party, or split among multiple political parties. This limit does not including donations made directly to a campaign fund during an election period.
Legal persons of any kind are prohibited from making any donations to a political party.
Source
Article 24, Section 2, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
During an election, contributions directly to an election campaign fund can be made in addition to the regular annual limits to political parties' operational budgets. These additional allowances are: National Assembly elections: Municipal elections in cities with over 4000 electors (using the proportional party list system): Legal persons are not allowed to make campaign contributions at any level. Source
Article 92, Sections 2 and 3 (National Assembly), Article 139, Section 3 (municipal proportional), RA Electoral Code, 2021.
|
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
During an election, contributions directly to an election campaign fund can be made in addition to the regular annual limits to political parties' operational budgets. These additional allowances are:
National Assembly elections:
Candidates included on the party list: 5,000,000 AMD
Other eligible physical persons: 500,000 AMD
Municipal elections in cities with over 4000 electors (using the proportional party list system):
Candidates included on the party list: 500,000 AMD (1,000,000 AMD for Yerevan elections only)
Other eligible physical persons: 100,000 AMD
Legal persons are not allowed to make campaign contributions at any level.
Source
Article 92, Sections 2 and 3 (National Assembly), Article 139, Section 3 (municipal proportional), RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Municipal elections in cities with under 4000 electors (using the majoritarian system): Legal persons are not allowed to donate to a candidate's pre-election campaign fund. Source
Article 115, Section 2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Municipal elections in cities with under 4000 electors (using the majoritarian system): Legal persons are not allowed to donate to a candidate's pre-election campaign fund. Source
Article 115, Section 2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
Code
Yes, specific limit for candidates
Comment
For specific amounts, see Questions 17 and 19 Source
Article 92, Sections 2 and 3 (National Assembly), Article 115, Section 2 (municipal majoritarian), Article 139, Section 3 (municipal proportional), RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The value of in-kind donations is considered under the general donation limits. Source
Article 24, Section 1.1, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
The value of in-kind donations is considered under the general donation limits. Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 27, Section 2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
There is a general ban on commercial activities, except for renting out property and operating a media enterprise (which may accept advertising). Source
Article 21, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Comment
Bank loans to political parties are expressly permitted. Source
Article 21, Section 1, Part 7.1, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
There is no ban on candidates taking bank loans, but these amounts would be included under their personal contribution limits to their or their party's campaign fund. Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party.
Source
Article 26, Section 2-3, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
Code
No
Comment
No special provisions could be found in legislation. All corporate entities are banned from political donations, though senior members of companies can still make sizeable donations in their own name. Source
RA Law on Procurement, 2021. |
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Cash donations are prohibited. Source
Article 24, Section 8, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. Article 26, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
Question | Value |
---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, regularly
Comment
Article 26, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Share of votes in previous election
Comment
To be eligible, political parties must have received at least 2% of the votes in the previous National Assembly election, or 7% if they participated as part of an electoral alliance. There is an additional sentence that says that parties that participated in the election as part of an electoral alliance must also have reached "the electoral threshold foreseen in the RA Electoral Code." In 2021, this threshold for alliances was 7%, but starting in 2022, it is increasing to 8% for alliances of 2 parties, 9% for alliances of 3 parties, and 10% for alliances of 4 or more parties. As the 7% figure will apply for payouts in 2022 (because the previous election was in 2021), I put 7% as the number for alliances. Source
Article 26, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Flat rate by votes received
Comment
1000 AMD for each vote received up to 5% of the vote total, 500 AMD for each vote received between 5% and 20% of the vote total, and 250 AMD for each vote received over 20% of the vote total. Note that these new funding figures were passed in late December 2020 but will only come into force starting in 2022. Source
Article 26, Section 4, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Comment
20% of public funding must be spent on including women, youth, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities in the activities of the party. Source
Article 26, Sections 6-9, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties participating in the National Assembly elections are entitled to up to 60 minutes of free time on Public TV and up to 120 minutes of free time on Public Radio. Source
Article 93, Sections 1-2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Equal
Comment
Political parties participating in the National Assembly elections are entitled to up to 60 minutes of free time on Public TV and up to 120 minutes of free time on Public Radio. Source
Article 93, Sections 1-2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Free media access is allocated to political parties only. Source
Article 93, Sections 1-2, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Cities with over 10,000 electors must allocate spaces to political parties during elections to post their campaign material. Source
Article 21, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
If the less-represented gender makes up less than 20% of the positions on the party's executive board, public funding is reduced by 20%. If the figure is 20-40%, public funding is reduced by 10%. If the figure is at least 40%, there is no reduction in public funding. Source
Article 26, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. Article 83, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
Comment
20% of public funding must be spent on including women, youth, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities in the activities of the party. |
Question | Value |
---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Handing out or promising money, food, goods or services to voters is prohibited. Source
Article 19, Section 6, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
National Assembly election: 500,000,000 AMD Yerevan municipal election: 300,000,000 AMD Source
(National Assembly): (Municipal): |
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
National Assembly election: 500,000,000 AMD National Assembly election (second round): 200,000,000 AMD Yerevan municipal election: 300,000,000 AMD Other municipal elections with over 25,000 electors: 60,000,000 AMD Municipal elections with between 4,000-25,000 electors: 40,000,000 AMD
Source
(National Assembly): (Municipal): |
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
For municipal elections in cities with under 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system), candidates for mayor or city council may spend up to 3,000,000 AMD. Donations to a specific candidate are only applicable in Armenia for municipal elections in cities with less than 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system). Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party.
Source
Article 115, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
For municipal elections in cities with under 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system), candidates for mayor or city council may spend up to 3,000,000 AMD. Campaigns in larger cities and at the national level are conducted with closed party lists, and campaign finances are handled by the political party. Source
Article 115, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
Code
No
Comment
Regulating third party election spending was discussed during the 2021 round of amendments to the Electoral Code. However, in the end, it was left out of the draft. Source
Akanates Observer Mission (2019) Problems of Political Party Finance in the Republic of Armenia, October 2019, Yerevan. |
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Comment
No specific limits on traditional media advertising spending. However, there are general total campaign expenditure limits. |
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Comment
No specific limits on online media advertising spending. However, there are general total campaign expenditure limits. |
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Online advertising is prohibited on the day before and the day of the election. Source
Article 19, Section 1, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
Question | Value |
---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annual financial filings must be submitted by March 25 of each year. Source
Article 27, Section 2, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Campaign-related financial reporting must be submitted to the Oversight and Audit Service of the Central Electoral Commission at three times during the campaign. Source
Article 28, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
For National Assembly elections, parties present a nationwide closed party list. All expenditures must flow from the party's campaign fund; individual candidates are not entitled to their own discretionary spending. For municipal elections in cities with under 4000 electors (which use the majoritarian system), candidates run individually. In these races, they only need to set up a campaign fund if they spend more than 500,000 AMD (which is rare). Source
Article 115, Section 1, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
Code
No
Comment
Third party election spending is not regulated. Source
Akanates Observer Mission (2019) Problems of Political Party Finance in the Republic of Armenia, October 2019, Yerevan. |
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annual financial filings are published on azdarar.am Source
Article 27, Section 5, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The source of donations, independent of amount, must be included in the party's annual financial report. Source
Article 27, Section 5, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The source of donations, independent of amount, must be included in the party's annual financial report. One interpretation is that identifying the source of a donation inherently requires the itemization of all such contributions. However, in practice, parties often forego this level of detail without facing any consequences. Source
Article 27, Section 5, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. |
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Applies during the official campaign period. Source
Article 28, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. |
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Comment
Ministry of Justice receives annual financial filings to post on azdarar.am Source
Article 27, Section 2, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. Article 28, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. Article 24, RA Law on the Corruption Prevention Commission, 2021. |
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
Responsibility is currently transitioning from Oversight and Audit Service of the Central Electoral Commission to the Corruption Prevention Commission. CPC will start covering this area in 2022 but the OAS of the CEC will still have some role. Source
Article 27, Section 2, RA Constitutional Law on Political Parties, 2020. Article 28, Section 4, RA Electoral Code, 2021. Article 24, RA Law on the Corruption Prevention Commission, 2021. |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Carry out investigation
Request additional information from potential violator
Request additional information from others
Impose sanctions
Source
Article 40.3, RA Law on the Corruption Prevention Commission, 2021. |
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Source
Article 154.10, RA Criminal Code, 2021. |