§ Article 23(untitled)

Restrictions for election campaigns

(title amended by HO-119-N of 30 June 2016, edited by HO-318-N of 4 May 2018)

1. It shall be prohibited to conduct an election campaign, disseminate any type of
 campaign material, use premises, means of transport and communication,
 material and human resources provided for performing official responsibilities
 for election campaign purposes, except for security measures applicable in
 respect of high-ranking officials subject to state protection under the Law of the
 Republic of Armenia “On ensuring the safety of persons subject to special state
 protection” for the above-mentioned:

 (1) public servants, workers of healthcare or medical organisations, educational
 institutions, pre-school educational institutions - when performing their
 powers or acting ex officio;

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 (2) the employees of state institutions or organisations, community institutions

 or organisations, organisations with 20 or more per cent participation of

 state or local self-government bodies in statutory capital - when performing

 their official duties or acting ex officio;

 (3) judges, prosecutors, officers of investigation bodies, the Police, the National

 Security Service, penitentiary institutions, the Judicial Acts Compulsory

 Enforcement Service, the Probation Service, the Rescue Service, military

 servants;

 (4) members of electoral commissions;

 (5) charitable and religious organisations, international organisations;

 (6) foreign citizens and organisations, persons not holding citizenship, except

 for the persons provided for by point 3 of part 2 of Article 2 of this Code;

 (7) the Human Rights Defender;

 (8) Board members of the Central Bank;

 (9) members the Audit Chamber;

 (10) members of the Commission on Television and Radio;

 (11) members of autonomous bodies.

2. Deputies of the National Assembly and heads of communities elected directly by

 electors, as well as members of the Council of Elders shall not be prohibited to

 conduct election campaign or disseminate campaign materials, excluding the

 usage of the administrative resources referred to in part 1 of this Article.

3. Candidates who are public servants, candidates included in the electoral list of

 the political party running in elections shall carry out the election campaign

 taking into account the following restrictions:

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 (1) direct or indirect appeals to vote for or against a candidate, a political party

 running in elections while performing official powers or any abuse of the

 official position to gain advantage during elections shall be prohibited;

 (2) use of financial and informational measures, premises, means of transport

 and communication, material and human resources provided for

 performing official responsibilities for election campaign purposes shall be

 prohibited, except for security measures applicable in respect of high-

 ranking officials subject to state protection under the Law of the Republic

 of Armenia “On ensuring the safety of persons subject to special state

 protection”.

4. Where coverage of other activities of a candidate referred to in part 3 of this

 Article, who is included in the electoral list of the political parties running in

 elections is carried out, the mass media carrying out terrestrial on-air

 broadcasting shall consider this when covering the activities of other candidates,

 political parties running in elections, in order to comply with the non-

 discriminatory principle of equality of coverage prescribed by Article 20 of this

 Code.

 (Article 23 amended by HO-119-N of 30 June 2016, edited by HO-318-N of
 4 May 2018)

 CHAPTER 5

 FUNDING OF ELECTIONS