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Political Finance Database

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Russian Federation

2016

2018

Bans and limits on private income

Public funding

Regulations of spending

Reporting, oversight and sanctions

Question	Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?	Code Yes
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code Yes Comment
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to Russian legal entities with foreign participation, or state participation, or Russian legal entities registered less than a year prior to the payment of the donation.
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No Comment Ban applies to Russian legal entities with foreign participation, or state participation; Russian legal entities registered less than a year prior to the voting day.
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No Source Article 30:'3. It is forbidden to accept donations to political party and its regional branches from:g) governmental bodies, other state bodies, local self-government bodies;h) state and municipal institutions, state and municipal unitary enterprises;i) legal entities in whose charter (contributed) capital the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subjects of theRussian Federation and/or municipal formations exceeds 30 per cent as of the date of donation (as of the date of drawing upof the list of shareholders for the preceding year - for public joint-stock companies);i.1) organisations founded by state bodies and/or local selfgovernment bodies (except for the joint-stock companies formed asresult of privatisation), organisations founded by the legal entities mentioned in Subitems 'e' and 'i' of the present item andalso from organisations in whose charter (contributed) capital the share (contribution) of the legal entities mentioned inSubitems 'e' and 'i' of the present item exceeds 30 per cent as of the date of donation (as of the date of drawing up of the listof shareholders for the preceding year for public joint-stock companies);' (Source: Federal Law on Political Parties)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No Source Article 66:'7. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be allowed from:(8) state and municipal institutions and organizations;(9) legal entities with a charter capital where the state or a municipality has a stake exceeding 30 per cent as of the day of theofficial publication of the decision to call the election;(10) organizations established by state and municipal bodies and by organizations indicated in Sub-clauses 5 and 9 of thisclause;' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation) Article 58:'6. No donations shall be made to electoral funds of candidates from:8) state and municipal institutions and organizations;9) legal entities with a state and/or municipal stake in their authorized capital exceeding 30 per cent thereof as of the day of official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of theRussian Federation;10) organizations established by state and/or municipal bodies as well as organizations established by legal entities mentioned in Sub-Clauses 5 and 9 of this clause;' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to legal entities in whose capital the share of the Russian Federation and/or municipal formations exceeds 30 per cent as of the date of donation. Source Article 30:'3. It is forbidden to accept donations to political party and its regional branches from:g) governmental bodies, other state bodies, local self-government bodies;h) state and municipal institutions, state and municipal unitary enterprises;i) legal entities in whose charter (contributed) capital the share (contribution) of the Russian Federation, subjects of theRussian Federation and/or municipal formations exceeds 30 per cent as of the date of donation (as of the date of drawing upof the list of shareholders for the preceding year - for public joint-stock companies);i.1) organisations founded by state bodies and/or local selfgovernment bodies (except for the joint-stock companies formed asresult of privatisation), organisations founded by the legal entities mentioned in Subitems 'e' and 'i' of the present item andalso from organisations in whose charter (contributed) capital the share (contribution) of the legal entities mentioned inSubitems 'e' and 'i' of the present item exceeds 30 per cent as of the date of donation (as of the date of drawing up of the listof shareholders for the preceding year for public joint-stock companies);' (Source: Federal Law on Political Parties)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Source Article 66:'7. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be allowed from:(8) state and municipal institutions and organizations;(9) legal entities with a charter capital where the state or a municipality has a stake exceeding 30 per cent as of the day of theofficial publication of the decision to call the election;(10) organizations established by state and municipal bodies and by organizations indicated in Sub-clauses 5 and 9 of thisclause;' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation) Article 58:'6. No donations shall be made to electoral funds of candidates from:8) state and municipal institutions and organizations;9) legal entities with a state and/or municipal stake in their authorized capital exceeding 30 per cent thereof as of the day of official publication of the decision to call the election of the President of theRussian Federation;10) organizations established by state and/or municipal bodies as well as organizations established by legal entities mentioned in Sub-Clauses 5 and 9 of this clause;' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment State institutions must not engage in campaigns or produce campaign materials
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 There are three kind of limits: on donations by a legal entity, by a natural person, and on the total amount of donations (all annually). Source Article 30.8The amount of donations received by a political party, includingincluding its regional offices, from a legal entity during a calendar year shall not exceed forty-three millionthree hundred thousand rubles. Amount of donations received by a political Party, including its regional offices, from oneindividual in a calendar year shall not exceedfour million three hundred thirty thousand rubles. (Source: Federal Law of December 1, 2012)
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 43,3 m. RUB (legal entities) and 4,33 m. RUB (individuals) annually Comment 43.4 million RUB for legal entities and 4,33 million RUB for individuals annually.
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 Donations by individuals and organizations are capped at 490 000/24.5 million RUB. Total amount of donations cannot exceed 400 million RUB for presidential elections and 700 million RUB for parliamentary elections. Source 'To fund campaigns, parties must set up an electoral fund from a mix of own resources and donations by individuals and organizations (capped at 490 000/24.5 million RUB (?8 000/ ?400 000 respectively).This fund may not exceed 400 million RUB(?6 million)for presidential elections and 700 million RUB(?11 million) for parliamentary elections. However, regional party branches may also set up their own electoral funds for parliamentary elections, giving a party a theoretical maximum of 3.38 billion RUB(?55 million) for the whole country.' (Source: European Parliament. 2015. Political Party Funding in Russia.)
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 490 000 RUB (individuals) & 24,5 m. RUB (organizations). Comment Donations by individuals and organizations are capped at 490 000/24.5 million RUB. Total amount of donations cannot exceed 400 million RUB for presidential elections and 700 million RUB for parliamentary elections.
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code Yes, for both natural and legal persons Source Article 66:'1. A candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district, a political party and an electoral bloc which nominated a federal list (federallists) of candidates shall establish their own electoral funds. A candidate nominated only on a federal list of candidates, a political partyand an electoral bloc which nominated candidates only in single-seat electoral districts shall not establish their own electoral funds.2. Electoral funds of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts may be formed only from the following sources:(3) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities in an amount not exceeding, respectively 5 percent and 50 percent of themaximum level of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, for eachcitizen, each legal entity.' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation) Article 58:'1. A candidate shall be obliged to establish his own electoral fund.2. Electoral funds of candidates may be formed only from the following sources:3) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities in an amount not exceeding, respectively, 1.5 and 7 percent of the maximum limit on all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established inaccordance with this Federal Law, for each citizen, each legal entity.' (Source: Federal Law on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation)
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code The limits of the contributions to candidates are defined in per cents of the total limit of expenditures. Comment The limits for the presidental candidates: 'voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities in an amount not exceeding, respectively, 1.5 and 7 percent of the maximum limit on all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, for each citizen, each legal entity.' The limits for the MP candidates: 'voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities in an amount not exceeding, respectively 5 percent and 50 percent of the maximum level of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, for each citizen, each legal entity.'
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code Yes, regularly
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Share of votes in previous election Comment Funding is available to political parties if either the candidates on a list by a political party (or election block including the party) for deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly gained not less than 3% of the vote in a federal constituency or if a registered candidate for the President of the Russian Federation nominated by a party received not less than 3% of the vote.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Flat rate by votes received Comment Funding is allocated as flat rate for each vote received.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Realize the objectives and to attain the goals provided in the charter and program of a political party Comment According to the law on political parties, the propety of the parties can be only used for 'realize the objectives and to attain the goals provided in the charter and program of a political party.'
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Yes Comment 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.
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Equal
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Comment There are provisions for free access to the printed media owned by the state, and to the channels of radio and televison owned by the state. There are special criterias for the free media access for the presidental candidates.
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Parties should be provided 'equal conditions' Comment There are several type of indirect state support, including access to public premises.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code No Comment There are no provisions of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates.
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No Comment There are no provisions for financial andvantages to encourage gender equality in political parties.

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code Yes Comment There is a limit for the electoral funds.
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code The spending limit for an electoral fund of a political party or bloc shall not exceed 250 million rubles [I$ 13,960,000] (indexed to the inflation rate). Comment The maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund of a political party, or an electoral bloc shall not exceed 250 million rubles [I$ 13,960,000]. However, every year, beginning with January 1, 2004, the maximum level of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party, or an electoral bloc will be indexed to the rate of inflation.
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code Yes
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Presidential candidates: 250 million rubles [I$ 13,960,000] Parliamentary candidates: 6 million rubles [I$ 335,000] Comment The limits have to be indexed to inflation rate.
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code Yes Comment Quarterly and every three years.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment The candidates have to report to the election commissions regurarly.
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code Yes Comment The consolidated financial reports are to be published on the internet by the EMB.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes Comment The reports must contain information on the donors.
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code EMB Comment The Central Election Commission.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code EMB Other Comment The Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation or the electoral commission of the subject of the RussianFederation, as well as 'Federal executive governmental body charged with control and supervision in the area of taxes'
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Deregistration of party Loss of nomination of candidate Suspension of political party Other Comment Parties can be suspended and if they do not rectify the situation they can be deregistered ('liquidated').? Candidates can lose their nomination if they use prohibited funds, spend too much or take advantage of the candidate's office or official position.?

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Political Finance Database

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