Fund of the initiative group on holding the republican referendum
Financing the expenditures related to the collection of signatures in support of the proposal on holding a republican referendum and campaigning on the initiation of the republican referendum by citizens is carried out at the expense of means of the fund of the initiative group on holding the republican referendum (hereinafter - the initiative group fund).
Initiative group fund may be formed from the following monetary means:
1) voluntary donations of members of the initiative group and other citizens of the Republic of Belarus. The amount of donation of one citizen may not exceed 15 base units;
2) voluntary donations of legal persons.The amount of donation of a legal person shall not exceed 30 base units.
The maximum amount of all expenditures from means of the initiative group fund shall not exceed 3000 base units.
The subjects mentioned in part four of Article 481 of this Code are not entitled to make donations in the initiative group fund.
For the formation of the initiative group fund, the head of the initiative group, not later than in a ten-day term from the date of registration of the initiative group must open a special account for holding the referendum (hereinafter - the special account) in a branch of the Joint Stock Company "Belarusbank Savings Bank". The ground for opening a special account shall be an application of the head of the initiative group and a copy of the decision of the Central Commission on the registration of the initiative group.
The head of the initiative group is entitled to open only one special account.No payment shall be exacted for the services of the bank in opening the special account and performing transactions through the account.The bank pays no interest for using the monetary funds deposited into the special account.The Central Commission shall send to the press for publication information on the opening of special electoral account.
The procedure for opening the special account, performing operations through the account, and closing the account shall be determined by the Central Commission in agreement with the open joint stock company – Belarusbank Savings Bank.
The right to dispose of means of the initiative group funds belongs to the head of the initiative group.
The head of the initiative group is entitled to appoint a representative of the initiative group on financial matters (hereinafter - the representative on financial matters). The registration of the representative on financial matters is carried out by the Central Commission on the basis of an application of the head of the initiative group.The application shall indicate the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, place of residence of the representative on financial matters, series, number and date of issue of the passport of the citizen of the Republic of Belarus.The Central Commission, within three days from the day of receipt of the application, registers the representative on financial matters and issues a certificate for him.
The candidate’s representative on financial matters is entitled to open a special electoral account, to dispose of the funds available on this account, and to submit reports on the receipt to the account and expenditures.The head of the initiative group has the right to revoke a representative on financial matters at any time, reporting to the Central Commission, as well as to the branch of the bank which opened the special account.
Means of the initiative group fund may be used to cover expenses and services related to the collection of signatures of citizens, including the payment for members of the initiative group who collect signatures in support of the proposal on holding a republican referendum, as well as to cover other expenses directly related to the campaigning on the referendum in the order established by the Central Commission.
The branch of the bank in which the special electoral account has been opened shall, on weekly basis, report to the Central Commission the data on receiving and spending the means being on the special account. The Central Commission shall, within two days after receiving the data, forward to the press for publication the information on the total sum of the means received by the initiative group fund and on the total sum of spent means.
Control over receipts and expenditures of the means of the initiative group fund is exercised by the Central Commission and the financial authorities.
Making donations to the initiative group fund, return of donations and termination of banking operations on the special account is carried out in accordance with the requirements of parts eight, eleven, sixteen and seventeen of Article 481 of this Code.
The head of the initiative group is obliged to submit financial reports on spending means of the initiative group fund to the Central Commission according to the following time scale:
the first report – in 20 days after the registration of the initiative group;
the second report – not later than within a five-day period from the final day of collecting signatures of the citizens;
the third report – in 20 days after the appointment of the referendum;
the final report – not later than within a five-day period from the day on voting on the referendum.
The report shall be accompanied by primary financial documents that confirm entry, return and spending of the means of the initiative group fund, statement about the remaining means and/or about the closure of the special account.In case the Central commission rejects the proposal to hold a referendum, the head of the initiative group submits the financial report to the Central commission not later than within a five-day period from the day of rejection of the proposal on holding the referendum.
In case of rejection of the proposal to hold a referendum by the Central Commission, the Central Commission shall inform in writing the branch of the bank which terminates all operations on the special account.
