Communicated on 17 May 2017

THIRD SECTION

Application no. 43351/12 OOO INFORMATSIONNOYE AGENTSTVO TAMBOV-INFORM against Russia lodged on 21 June 2012

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE

The application concerns imposition of fines between 720 and 1,200 euros on the applicant organisation for administrative offences arising from violations of the electoral legislation by its mass media outlet in October and November 2011 ( i ) on account of unlawful “electoral campaigning” because they published on their website two articles by A. (separate proceedings against him were discontinued for lack of a corpus delicti ); and (ii) on account of providing a non-governmental organisation with its Internet platform for an online public opinion poll “What party do you prefer for the election of 4 December 2011?” and publication of an article by T. on political preferences of the Russian citizens.

QUESTION tO THE PARTIES

Was there a violation of Article 10 of the Convention? In particular, was the imposition of fines proportionate to a legitimate aim and convincingly shown to be “necessary in a democratic society”?