Approved by Decision
7/27-7
dated on July 18, 2008 of the
Central Election Commission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
INSTRUCTION
on the Press Group formed under the Central Election Commission to control the observance of the rules for the conduct of pre-election campaign in mass media
1. Common provisions
The Press Group shall be formed under Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as CEC) according to the requirements of Articles 25.3 and 74.5 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as Election Code) in order to control the observance of defined rules for the conduct of pre-election (pre-referenda) campaign during elections (referenda) conducted in the Republic of Azerbaijan, i.e. conducting pre-election campaign in mass media (radio, TV, as well as including other measures based on the campaign).
1.1. The Press Group under the Central Election Commission (CEC) shall be formed in the composition consisting of commissioners of the Central Election Commission, specialists many of them engaged in the field of journalism.
1.2. While functioning, the Press Group adopts the requirements of legislation and other normative acts adopted by the CEC as a basis.
1.3. Within its authority given by the CEC, The Press Group functions mutually with bodies that implements the administration and control in the field of the press and information, editorial offices of mass media, registered candidates, political parties and blocs of political parties that nominated candidates, campaign groups and other participants of the election process.
1.4. In its sessions, the Press Group considers the applications and complaints based on the violation of defined rules and methods for the conduct of pre-election campaign in mass media, takes measures to eliminate the revealed shortages and puts its suggestions on applications and complains into discussion of the CEC.
1.5. The CEC implements the administration of the Press Group, organization of its activity and law-based maintenance.
2. Formation and rules for the organization of activity of the Press Group
2.1. The composition of the Press Group shall be approved by Decision of CEC.
2.2. Head of the Press Group shall be elected by members of the Group.
2.3. Head of the Press Group shall be elected from members of the CEC with decisive rights to vote.
2.4. In the case of the absence of the head of the Press Group, one of its members implements duties of the head with his/her charge.
2.5. Press Group is an organization that functions in a collegial form.
2.6. In the case when 2/3 part of Press Group members participate in the session, then it should be considered authoritative.
2.7. The decisions concerning the issues discussed at the session shall be adopted by simple majority of vote.
3. Duties of the Press Group
3.1. Basic duties of the Press Group are as follows:
3.1.1. Implementation of the control on the observance of legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan that regulates methods and rules for the conduct of pre-election campaign and provisions of Instructions and other acts by the CEC by participants of the election process;
3.1.2. Consideration of the appeals on the violation of pre-election campaign rules;
3.1.3. Giving suggestions to the CEC on the results of the conducted inspections and consideration of the appeals.
4. Functions of the Press Group
4.1. The functions of the Press Group are as follows:
4.1.1. Control on the observance of the tabulation sheet for the paid and unpaid air time on channels of the State TV and Radio Company by mass media, registered candidates, political parties, blocs of political parties and campaign groups on referenda and abidance of the requirements of law by the periodical editorials;
4.1.2. Consideration of the appeals of mass media representatives on the contracts signed between registered candidates, political parties, blocs of political parties whose candidate has been registered, campaign groups on referenda and mass media on the allocation of paid airtime, as well as pages in periodicals on paid bases for the conduct of pre-election campaign;
4.1.3. Listening to the information of the representatives of mass media editorials which are group members on abiding legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this Regulation and entered complaints and other related persons;
4.1.4.
- Implementation of the control on the observance of correlation defined by the Instruction for the paid and unpaid air time allocated for candidates by the State TV and Radio Company, the publication of pre-election campaign materials in periodicals in the case defined by the relevant Instruction, as well as abidance of the rules defined by law;
4.1.5. Inspection of the information on the violation of legislation during pre-election campaign.
5. Rights of the Press Group
5.1. Press Group shall have the following rights:
5.1.1. Consideration of the appeals on the violation of pre-election campaign rules in mass media and informing the interested parties on the results of the investigation;
5.1.2. Taking relevant measures for the elimination of the violation cases of the rules for the conduct of pre-election campaign in the case defined by legislation.
6. Right and duties of the head of the Press Group
6.1. Head of the Press Group shall:
6.1.1.
Organize and plan the work of the Group and puts the issues related to the work of the Group into the discussion of the CEC;
6.1.2.
Conduct work division among members of the Press Group;
6.1.3.
Ensure work of the Press Group connected with the CEC, makes proposals requiring their settlement by the Commission and its chairman;
6.1.4.
Call session of the Press Group to consider the issues requiring the collegial discussion and chair these sessions;
6.1.5.
Report on the activity of the Press Group with the request of the CEC.
