The Duma election media campaign is kicking off. Each of the 7 parties contesting seats in Russia’s lower house of parliament has received one hour of free airtime on four federal channels and four radio stations, including The Voice of Russia. Free printed space has been granted the participants by 12 newspapers and one magazine.
By law, half the airtime is given to debates. The first of these can be heard on November 7. In addition to free air time and newspaper space, parties can have paid-for time in the media.
It is for the first time in modern Russia’s history that all registered political parties have been granted the right to run in Duma elections, namely the parliamentary parties United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia, and also the parties with no factions in the lower house of parliament, – Yabloko, the Right Cause and the Patriots of Russia.
The State Duma elections will be held on December 4.
Source: Duma election media campaign kicks off: Voice of Russia.