The Central Electoral Commission announced that today, April 17, 2026, marks the start of the electoral campaign for registered candidates in the new local elections and for participants in the referendum scheduled for May 17, 2026, TRIBUNA reports.

According to the Electoral Code, electoral contestants and referendum participants are required to conduct their campaigns in a fair and transparent manner. Candidates are prohibited from using administrative resources, including launching or participating in infrastructure projects or public procurement funded from the national public budget, as well as using public equipment, assets, or resources. Public authorities and related institutions are not allowed to provide electoral competitors or referendum participants with public goods or any advantages except on a contractual basis and under equal conditions.

At the same time, electoral contestants and referendum participants are not allowed to organize concerts, contests, or other events involving performers or artistic personnel, whether from the country or abroad, if these are used for political promotion. They are also prohibited from displaying campaign slogans or distributing materials containing electoral symbols during such events.

However, candidates and referendum participants are allowed to hold meetings with voters, and local public authorities are required to ensure equal conditions and opportunities for organizing such meetings.