§ Article 51Releasing the Material Compromising a Candidate or a Party which Has Nominated a List of Candidates, and the Countering Opinion

1. If during campaigning the mass media release the material compromising a candidate or a party which has nominated a list of candidates (such data may be released not later than: in a means of the mass media which is issued more frequently than three times a week - 5 days before the elections, in other means of the mass media - 10 days before the elections, but in any case the material compromising a candidate or a party which has nominated a list of candidates may be released not later than in the last but one issue of a means of the mass media before the elections), it must provide the candidate or the party which has nominated a list of candidates with an opportunity to express a countering opinion which consists of a short exposition of the released compromising material and the answer. The extent of the countering opinion usually may not exceed the volume of the compromising material by more than three times. The means of the mass media must publicise the countering opinion within 7 days after it has been expressed, but not later than 2 days before the prohibition of campaigning becomes effective. If the means of the mass media itself cannot publicise the countering opinion during the period of time set by the Law, it must with its own funds publicise the countering opinion in another means of the mass media.
2. The material which is aimed at influencing voters not to vote for an individual candidate (candidates) nominated by a particular party and which contains information negatively describing the candidate or the party (its branch or division) shall be considered as compromising material. An opinion about the candidate or the party announced in the mass media (unlike hard news, criteria of truth shall not apply to an opinion), including a negative opinion, shall not be considered as compromising material and shall not entitle the candidate or the party to demand announcing a countering opinion. The demand to announce a countering opinion may also be rejected in cases when: the released material does not concern the candidate personally or the said party; the released material is not compromising; the compromising material about the candidate or the party is released by another candidate who is nominated by the same party; the material contains no information describing the candidate or the party; the candidate or the party has already exercised the right to a countering opinion.
3. A party or a candidate shall furnish the countering opinion to the means of the mass media through its (his) representative for elections in the Central Electoral Committee or through its (his) representative for elections in a municipal electoral committee. If the representative for elections has duly furnished the countering opinion to the means of the mass media, but it has not been announced, by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee the countering opinion shall be broadcast on the Lithuanian national radio or television and shall be paid for at the rates of advertisement fees. In this event, the means of the mass media must pay the Central Electoral Committee double the amount of the broadcast costs.
4. If the compromising material was released during the period of time when its release is not permitted under this Law, by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee the countering opinion shall be broadcast on the Lithuanian national radio or television and shall be paid for at the rates of advertisement fees. In this event the means of the mass media must pay the Central Electoral Committee three times the amount of the broadcast costs.
5. In all cases a countering opinion shall not be announced during the period when campaigning is prohibited. Announcement of a countering opinion shall not exempt the means of the mass media from liability under the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
6. When the countering opinion is made public on the decision of the Central Electoral Committee, the costs thereof set by this Law shall be recovered from that means of the mass media which has released the material compromising the candidate during the period when such release is not permitted or which has not announced the countering opinion in proper time.