Article 18. Official statements

1. Official statements by government bodies shall be placed in mass media in accordance with legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2. Government bodies shall be obliged to provide mass media representatives with information on equal basis regardless of their form of ownership and affiliation excluding information that constitutes state secrets of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2-1. State bodies and other organizations are bound to present requested information no later than three days from the day of receipt of an address or give an answer with indication of term of presentation or motive of refusal.

Response to an address, which requires additional examination and checking, shall be given on term no later than one month from the day of receipt.

In case an address from a mass medium is received by state bodies or other organizations, which terms of reference do not cover resolution of set issues, on term no later than 5 days the given address should be forwarded to proper bodies with informing of a mass medium.

3. Refusal to provide the requested data shall be appealed by mass medium representative to superior agency or official and then in the court in an order provided by the Law for complaints against illegitimate actions of the state executive agencies and officials infringing rights of citizens.