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CEC checking finance reports of political parties for 1st quarter

The audit will be completed within two calendar months

MOSCOW, May 6 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) has begun checks of the information on the receipt and spending of funds in the first quarter of 2012, submitted to it by the country’s political parties, the Central Election Commission reported on Saturday.

All seven political parties registered with the Ministry of Justice: United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, Patriots of Russia, Just Cause, A Just Russia, Yabloko have submitted the financial reports.

“These are the first reports, which reflect the budgetary financing of political parties during the December elections to the sixth State Duma,” the Russian CEC reported.

In total, according to the submitted information, “in the first quarter of 2012 the political parties received property totalling approximately 1 billion and 562.7 million roubles, of which the monetary assets exceeded 1 billion and 557.6 million roubles.”

“The federal budget funds transferred to the political parties amounted to little more than 1 billion and 348.1 million roubles,” the CEC specified. In particular, “for congresses, party conferences, general meetings more than 11.7 million roubles were transferred; for the support of the governing bodies of political parties - about 145.3 million roubles; to the election funds - about 632.7 million roubles.”

United Russia in the first quarter of the year received 762.7 million roubles, and spent on the preparation for and conduct of the elections and referendums 120 million roubles. The Communist Party received 318 million roubles for these purposes and spent 196 million roubles. The Liberal Democratic Party received 226.6 million roubles and spent on elections 195.6 million roubles. A Just Russia received 194.6 million roubles and spent 108 million roubles, respectively.

The Yabloko party in the first quarter of the year received 47.9 million roubles and spent on the preparation for and conduct of the elections 12.8 million roubles. The Right Cause party received 6.4 million roubles, and spent just 200 thousand roubles.

A sum of 1 million and 530 thousand roubles was transferred to Patriots of Russia, but the party did not participate in the elections.

The audit will be completed within two calendar months. The work is carried out under the supervision of the CEC Deputy Chairman Stanislav Vavilov who oversees in the Commission the issues of financial reporting of political parties.

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