UR answers the questions of ‘Golos’ expert concerning the Primaries

‘United Russia’ answered the questions concerning the preparation for the Primaries, that were sent in May by Vitaly Kovin, the political scientist representing the movement ‘Golos’.

Vitaly Sergeyevich contacted the regional Perm office of UR concerning the preparatory work and the vote in primary election to determine party candidates in the Election to State Duma.

‘Primaries as a process to determine the candidates in the forthcoming election should be perceived as a positive practice of inner-party democracy and should be welcomed. However, given the contradictory experience of the primaries held by ‘United Russia’ in different regions of the country, I find a number of questions regarding the primaries’, - the expert said in his letter.

V.S. Kovin: On March 1, the regional party committee has approved the list of polling stations where the UR primaries scheduled for May 22, 2016 are held. Some of these polling stations are situated in the buildings of municipality office or public institutions (e.g., schools). What are the terms of use, in particular financial aspect, applied to these premises? Will you sign respective contracts concerning the rental of premises in accordance with the Primaries rules? Where could I find a complete list of polling stations, as it was not annexed to the respective decision of the regional committee, which is available on the specified website (http://pg.er.ru/ok/item/id/55/)?

UR: We have signed all necessary lease contracts with the owners of the premises, regardless of the type of organization that offers the premises to the precinct vote count commissions. Utilities are included in the premises rent for the period of 21-22 May, 2016.

V.S. Kovin: The 22nd of May is a day off (Sunday), a public event, primaries, held in the premises on this day would inevitably mean that some the staff responsible for the security and maintenance of the building would have to work overtime. Will they receive compensation for the loss of the day off? How and what resources will be used for that? Will you sign respective contracts with them?

UR: A complete list of polling stations can be found on the following website: http://pg.er.ru

The regional office of the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ in Perm region and Regional Perm Executive Committee are not going to involve any personnel of institutions, in which office building the corresponding polling stations are going to be situated. In addition, the Committee has no such authority, as it is not an employer of the potential subordinates.

V.S. Kovin: Moreover, concerning the primaries, in particular the preparatory and organizational work of vote count commissions based at polling stations, scheduled for days off and after working hours, as well as in case of any other event, it results in the use of electricity, water and other utilities. Who will be responsible and what resources will be used to compensate such expenses?

UR: The Ministry of Interior Affairs is responsible for public security. The respective authorities are notified on the event.

V.S. Kovin: Carrying out such a massive public event involving a large number of actors (voters and candidates) requires measures to ensure high security level, what naturally invokes involvement of law enforcement agencies and possibly security firms. How, under what conditions and what resources will be allocated to remunerate the employees of these agencies on the Primary Election Day? Are the respective contracts and agreements signed?

UR: We will sign respective compensatory agreements concerning the service provided by the members of precinct vote count commissions. Payments under these contracts will be made at the expense of funds allocated by the Central Executive Committee of the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’.

V.S. Kovin: According to the Regulation on Primaries (Article 14), on the Primary Election Day, the members of the precinct election commissions, as well as other ‘citizens to perform duties related to the preparation and conduct of the voting’ will be engaged on the Primary Election Day. What conditions are you planning to apply to citizens engaged in the work of the above mentioned commissions? Will you sign respective contracts with these people concerning such duties? Will they get paid for their work? What resources will be used?

UR: We will not invoke any financial commitments related to the primaries of the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ at the expense of the state and local budgets or the budgets of institutions that offering us the premises.

V.S. Kovin: Would the initiators and organizers of the ‘United Russia’ primaries in general perceive as acceptable and fair to organize this event at the expense of state and local budgets or the budgets of institutions that share their premises?

What resources will be allocated to finance various party primary election activities concerning the preparatory and organizational work (e.g., publication of primaries related information in media, distribution of campaigning materials, debates)? What share of these expenses are paid by the party, the regional fund for the party support, donations and funds received from candidates?

UR: In accordance with the Regulations and Rules on the preparatory work and conduct of primary election to nominate the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ candidates in the Election to the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation of the Seventh convocation, the regional executive committee in the Perm region and the regional office of the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ in Perm region have no obligation to provide a financial report on the costs of primaries.

In addition, according to the Federal Law ‘On political parties’ a political party shall submit information on the received funds and expenses to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, whereas the regional office or other registered subdivision of a political party - to the election commission of the territorial entity of the Russian Federation, in respect to the location of its registration. This information shall be submitted on a quarterly basis, not later than 30 days after the end of the quarter.

V.S. Kovin: Is the regional office of ‘United Russia’ planning to share with the public as well as media its final financial statement on its expenditure of primaries, after it is over?

UR: In accordance with the Regulations and Rules on the preparatory work and conduct of primary election to nominate the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ candidates in the Election to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the Seventh convocation the regional executive committee of Perm region and the regional office of the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ in Perm region are not obliged to provide a financial report on the costs of a primary election.

In addition, according to the Federal Law ‘On political parties’ a political party shall submit information on the received funds and expenses to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, whereas the regional office or other registered subdivision of a political party - to the election commission of the territorial entity of the Russian Federation, in respect to the location of its registration. This information shall be submitted on a quarterly basis, not later than 30 days after the end of the quarter.

V.S. Kovin: Unfortunately, previously in numerous regions state and municipal officials, as well as personnel were involved in preparatory and organizational work of UR primaries, including the members of public and advisory councils to the state and municipal authorities or local government. Are you going to further pursue such practice?

UR: State and municipal officials, as well as the members of the non-governmental and advisory councils to the public authorities and local government have a right to contribute to the primaries related activities after their working hours.

V.S. Kovin: A list of regional vote count commission members was published on the indicated website http://pg.er.ru/; this commission is chaired by a member of the Perm regional election commission S. Y. Britvin. Meanwhile, according to the Article 12 of the Rules, only a particular number of members of the territorial election commissions of the region, including a member of the election commission of the corresponding territorial entity of the Russian Federation with the voting membership, appointed on the proposal of the Party, are eligible for membership of a vote count commission. Respectively, it seems that S. Y. Britvin does not fall under any of these categories, isn’t it?

UR: In accordance with Art. 12 of the Rules on the preparatory work and conduct of primary election to nominate the party ‘UNITED RUSSIA’ candidates in the Election to Federal Assembly of Russian Federation of the Seventh convocation, a regional vote count commission is established under the decision of the regional executive committee. The second paragraph of the Rules stipulates the general rules on composition of the commission, implying the right to establish a commission, rather than an obligation.