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[Second Issue of the Day]
#14
BBC Monitoring
Forthcoming law on Russia's political parties to ensure
financial transparency
Source: Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1000 gmt 7 Feb 02
Commercial confidentiality will no longer extend to the financial activities of political parties, head of the Central Electoral Commission Aleksandr Veshnyakov said today. He was opening a seminar of political party representatives on the legal aspects of party activities. Our correspondent, Aleksey Kondrashov, has the details:
[Correspondent] According to the statement by the head of the Central Electoral Commission, the new law on political parties guarantees the principle of openness and transparency in their activities as never before, which, it would seem, is the best way of combating corruption.
As of 1 May 2002 every registered political party will have to publish an account of its financial activities for the previous year. This will apply to all parties registered at 1 January 2002. Later on, there are plans to introduce an amendment to current legislation whereby, in the run-up to parliamentary elections, parties must publish a report on their financial activities for the four years that have elapsed since the previous election.
Today's seminar is discussing a whole set of issues linked to party accounts. As First Deputy Taxes and Levies Minister Aleksandr Smirnov told the meeting, by the end of February the ministry will have drawn up a form on party accounts. Sources of party funding will be checked, including donations and party property...
It should also be pointed out that cross-checks will be carried out into some items. Under the law, legal entities have the right to contribute up to R100m a year to party coffers and private persons up to R1m. The law also indicates sources that may not be used for party funding - these are foreign state capital and international foundations. Parties will have one month in which to return money from illegitimate sources.
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