LEGISLATIVE OMISSION

The difference between electoral bribe and campaign isn\’t clear.

The minister of Justice made an observation in the press hall of “Regnum” agency on May 9 that the formulation about the electoral bribe isn\’t clear enough in the “Electoral Code” and criminal legislation. In his words, it isn\’t clearly mentioned what the pre-electoral propaganda is. He told that there are different approaches in different countries about that issue. In several countries even the slogan isn\’t a propaganda if the party name isn\’t mentioned on it.
While our local organizations, following the duration of elections, make reports about unequal campaign conditions, usage of adminstrative resources, electoral bribes distributed as assistance, unequality in media coverage.
One of those organizations the “Supreme Council- parliamentary club” and its leader Ruben Torosyan, whom the CEC refused to register as an observer but he still continues to represent apllication-proposals to the CEC, messages to the Prosecutor\’s office, publshstatements and reports.
In answer to our question what infringements he records, RUBEN Torosyn answered: “The electoral bribe is clearly defined in the 7th point of the 18th article of the “Electoral Code.What else do we need?” According to that item, “During the pre-election campaign candidates and parties are banned from giving (promising) – personally or through other means – money, food, bonds, and goods to citizens free of charge or on privileged terms or rendering (promising) services.”
We should note that we also reminded the Minister of Justice about that article during the press conference but he replied that isn\’t everything clearly defined, juridically and suggested to organize a discussion on that theme.
As regards the next affirmation that the definition of pre-electoral campaign isn\’t clear, Ruben Torosyan told that the campaign /April 8/before the official launch wasn\’t clearly defined. As for the rest, he reminded that the 11th article of the “Organization of Television and Radio broadcasting” chapter of the “Law on Television and Radio Broadcasting”, according to which “Before and during referendum and election campaigns it is forbidden to broadcast political or other campaign materials in the form of information, editorial, documentary, column and other programs. Similar programs should be run with the “Political Advertisement” or “Election Campaign” title on the screen. In case of radio broadcast not less than three times during the program there should be a reminder about it.\’\’ Thus our legislation has defined that each political program during the elections is a pre-electoral campaign”.
The Minister of Justice had also mentioned that unlike the former elections, the court system was ready for the electoral judicial claims. “The judges have made discussions, training meetings trying to discuss different situations and form joint approaches to reply different kind of situations”. In answer to this, Ruben Torosyan said that their joint decision was the refusal of his claims. “The courts infringing the RA legislation\’s demands refuse any application about electoral frauds”, – Mr. Torosyan concluded and gave examples which we can\’t cite as it will infringe the item of he law according to which the campaign is forbidden the day before the elections. Though it isn\’t clear yet what is the propaganda?