1. Procedure of access of the mass media representatives to the public events, meetings of the election commissions and polling stations.

Unimpeded access of the representatives of the mass media to the public events connected with the elections of the President of Ukraine, is guaranteed by the part 4 of Article 13 of the Law of Ukraine “On the elections of the President of Ukraine” and to the meetings of the election commissions, as well as to the polling stations on the day of elections and on the day of the second vote – part 9 of the Article 28 of the abovementioned Law.

In particular the representatives of the mass media (not more than two persons from one mass media) have the right to be present without permission or invitation of the respective commissions at the meetings of the elections commission including during the time of counting the votes and establishing the results of the voting, at the polling station on the day of elections or on the day of the second vote in the premises, where the voting takes place. There are no timely limits of stay at the polling station.

For coverage of the electoral process directly at the polling stations the representatives of the mass media are obliged to submit the editorial license upon the demand of the members of the election commissions. As the diplomatic and other official missions and consular establishments of Ukraine abroad, as well as military units (formations), deployed abroad, at which according to the part 5 of Article 20 of the mentioned Law foreign polling stations are established, are regime objects, for unimpeded access to their territory journalists should in advance warn officials, responsible for the regime and security of the mentioned establishments, about their presence.

Photo and video shooting is prohibited only in the cabin for secret ballot as during filling in the ballots the presence of other persons, other than the voter himself, is prohibited, except for the case when the voter who because of the disabilities cannot fill in the ballot by himself, has the right with the consent of the head or other member of the local election commission  to use the help of another voter, except for the members of the election commission, candidates for the post of the President of Ukraine, their trustees, official observers.

According to the point 1 of part 2 of Article 11 of the Law the election process is held on the basis of legality and prohibition of illegal interference of anyone into this process. Nobody has a right to intervene into the activity of the election commissions, including representatives of the mass media, except for the cases, stipulated by the law (part 17 of Article 28 of the Law).

According to part 11 of Article 28 of the Law of Ukraine “On the elections of the President of Ukraine” the election commission can adopt the motivated decision on deprivation of the representatives of mass media of the right of the presence at the meeting, if they illegally prevent its holding.

2. Procedure of receiving the information.

For receiving information of any character, including the one on the course of voting, it is necessary to refer directly to the respective local election commission, in particular, to its head or his/her deputy.

Organization and having interview with the members of the local election commissions are conducted individually, by agreement of parties, according to the legislation in force.

3. Procedure of accreditation of the representatives of the mass media at the Central election commission.

Representatives of the mass media, including the technical personnel, should be accredited to the events in the Central election commission of Ukraine. Accreditation has already started and will continue till May 10, 2014.

Permanent accreditation (for the whole period of the preparation of conducting early elections of the President of Ukraine) is done by means of sending to the Chairman of the Central election commission M.Ohendovskyi the letter, signed by the head of the mass media with the request to accredit the workers of the mass media to the events which are held by the Central election commission. The letter, certified by the seal, should contain such information: title of the mass media, surname, name, patronymic name and title (post) of the worker of the mass media. Letters can be sent to the postal address: 01196, Kyiv, Lesya Ukrayinka sqr., 1; e-mail: [email protected] and [email protected], fax: +38 044 286 83 80.

Concerning accreditation for a single event you can call to: +38 044 256 82 80, +38 044 286 80 71. Contact persons – Olena Tereshchuk, Volodymyr Vyrva.

With the aim of unimpeded bringing apparatus and equipment to the hall of the press-center of the Central election commission for organization of live broadcasting, location of the mobile technical stations on the territory of the courtyard of the Central election commission, the applications should be sent to the Central election commission with the list of the respective equipment till May 16, 2014.