MOSCOW, March 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has become the first presidential candidate to report his election expenditures.
He used 399,853,821 roubles during the presidential campaign that ended on March 4.
Almost half of this amount – 208.9 million roubles – went to election canvassing and advertising through mass media. Another 118 million roubles were paid for the distribution of printed materials and 48.9 million roubles for mass public events.
Putin’s election fund did not exceed 400 million roubles allowed by law. All money above that level – about 34.3 million roubles – were returned to the donators, both individuals and legal entities, and 194.8 million roubles were transferred to the budget.
Precisely one half of the election fund – 200 million roubles – was provided by the ruling United Russia party that nominated Putin.
Putin is the first of the five presidential candidates to have reported his election expenditures.