Putin signed the election law during martial law – Kommersant

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law providing for the possibility of holding elections in territories where martial law has been introduced. The decision to call elections or a referendum will have to be taken by the Central Election Commission following consultations with the Ministry of Defense and the FSB (previously, the law provided that elections and referendums were not held during martial law).

The amendments suggest that the initiative to hold elections to the CEC should be directed by the governors of the regions in which martial law is in effect. In such cases, the amendments allow for a reduction in the timing of electoral actions, and “other features of the preparation and conduct of elections, a referendum during martial law” can also be established by law.

It also introduces a ban on election campaigning using resources access to which has been restricted by Roskomnadzor. During the elections to state authorities and presidential elections, local authorities will be able to allocate funds from the budget for “assistance in the preparation and conduct of elections”, as well as for informing voters. In addition, the law stipulates a minimum threshold for voluntary donations to candidates and parties from citizens and businesses.

One of the authors of the initiative, Chairman of the State Construction Committee Pavel Krasheninnikov saidthat the amendments will ensure that elections are held in regions where valid martial law – DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. These regions were annexed to the Russian Federation on September 30, 2022. The law was submitted to the State Duma on May 3, in the third reading it was approved May 18

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “The Hunt for Change”.

Laura Keffer