Text of report by Kyrgyz radio on 3rd February

[Announcer] Representatives of certain mass media, mainly electronic ones,
which do not fall under Paragaph 9 of Article 30 of the electoral code,
have asked the Central Electoral Commission [CEC] to expain whether they
have the right to allot free airtime and newspaper space to candidates
standing for deputy seats and to political parties and electoral blocs.
The allocation of airtime and newspaper space during the election campaign
should be conducted strictly on the basis of the Electoral Code of the
Kyrgyz Republic. If the editorial staff decides to allot free air time or
press space to candidates, political parties and electoral blocs, in
accordance with Paragraph 3 of Article 30 of the electoral code this
decision should be applied to all candidates, political parties and
electoral blocs without exception.

Therefore this medium should first of all announce the free allocation of
airtime and printing space by a special broadcast announcement, inclusion
in a television or radio programme or publication on the pages of a
periodical publication, and should inform all relevant persons of this. If
this medium allocates free airtime and newspaper space to political parties
and electoral blocs it must notify the CEC, which is the electoral district
commission for the elections of deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the
Supreme Council for the single republican electoral district. After that
every candidate, political party and electoral bloc which has sent in an
application has the right to receive free air time and printing space on
equal conditions.

Source: Kyrgyz Radio first programme, Bishkek, in Russian 1400 gmt 03 Feb 00
BBC Mon CAU 030200/** VA/MA