34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?

Article 46. Use of mass media in electoral campaign during the holding of referendum

"A candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus, for deputy of the House of Representatives has the right to publish free of charge in mass media mentioned in part two of this Article his electoral program, having presented the text of the mentioned program not later than 20 days prior to the elections. The volume of electoral program which shall be published free of charge in mass media for the candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus may not exceed five printed pages, for the candidate for deputy of the House of Representatives – two printed pages.

The list of mass media where electoral programs of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus shall be published free of charge is determined by the Central Commission.

When publishing the electoral programs of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus, the order of their submission shall be observed.

Candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus have the right to free of charge statements on the state television as well as on the radio. The National State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus submits, within 10 days after fixing the date of the elections, to the Central Commission a limit time for statements of the candidates on the state television as well as on the radio. The mentioned broadcasting time shall fall on the period, when TV and radio programs have the greatest audience.

The order and number of statements by the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus on television as well as on the radio are determined by the Central Commission. The statements of candidates shall be ensured on equal terms.

The Central Commission reserves a part of the limit time as to hold TV debates of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Belarus, deputies of the House of Representatives. The TV debates are held upon agreement of the candidates. The candidate is entitled to authorize an authorized person to participate in the TV debates. Failure to participate in the TV debates shall not result in increase of broadcasting time provided to the candidate for free."

Source: Article 46 (indents 7 - 19), Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus, 2000 (Amended as of June 4, 2015)