First instance body dealing with electoral disputes

Federal Law On The Election Of The President OfThe Russian Federation

Source: http://www.cikrf.ru/eng/law/19-FZ/index.html

Article 12. 1. The election of the Presidentof the Russian Federation shall be prepared and conducted by: the CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation; election commissions of thesubjects of the Russian Federation; territorial election commissions -district, city and other territorial election commissions or electioncommissions of municipal formations acting as territorial election commissionsin the cases provided for in the Federal Law 'On Basic Guarantees ofElectoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation toParticipate in a Referendum“; precinct election commissions.

4. Election commissions shall be obliged, withinthe scope of their competence, to consider complaints which they receive in thecourse of the election campaign concerning violations of this Federal Law,other federal laws with regards to preparation and conduct of the election ofthe President of the Russian Federation; carry out inquires in connection withthese complaints; provide written answers to the complainants within five daysbut not later than the day preceding the voting day, and respond immediately tocomplaints received on the voting day or the next day. If additionalverification of the facts cited in these complaints is necessary, the decisionson such complaints shall be taken within ten days. If the complaint cites thefacts of violation by any candidate or political party of the provisions ofthis Federal Law, other federal laws with regards to preparation and conduct ofthe election, then the candidate or the political party or their authorizedrepresentatives shall be immediately informed of receipt of such complaint. Thecandidate or his authorized representative, the authorized representatives ofthe political party may give explanations to the substance of the complaint. Ifany candidate, any political party violates this Federal Law, the electioncommission may issue a warning to this candidate, this political party, whichshall be made known to voters through the mass media or by some other method.