This Law establishes legal bases of functioning of languages in the Republic of Kazakhstan, state duties in creation of conditions for their studying and development, provides equally valid relation to everything, without an exception, to languages used in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Chapter 1.GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article1. The basic concepts

In this Law following concepts are used:

Diaspora - part of people (an ethnic generality), living abroad;

Onomastics - the section of linguistics studying own names, history of their occurrence and transformation;

Orthography - spelling, system of the rules defining uniformity of ways of a speech transmission (words and grammatical forms) on the letter;

Toponymy - section of the Onomastics, studying names of geographical objects, laws of their occurrence, change, functioning;

Transliteration - spelling transmission of texts and separate words of one graphic system by means of other graphic system.

The terminological commission - it is advisory body, developing offers in the field of terminological vocabulary of the Kazakh language on all branches of economy of a science of engineering, culture; 
     

The onomastics  commission - it is advisory body, developing offers on formation of the integrated approach to the name and renaming of geographical objects, streamlining of the uses and the account of toponymical names, restoration, preservation of historical names as component of a historical and cultural heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

The authorized  body - the central executive office responsible for realization of a integrated state policy in sphere of development of languages.

Article 2. Subject of regulation of this Law  

Subject of regulation of the present Law are the public relations arising in connection with the usage of languages in activity of the state, non state organizations and local administration bodies.

This Law does not regulate the usage of languages in interpersonal relations and in religious associations.

Article 3. The legislation on languages in the Republic of Kazakhstan

 
The legislation on languages in the Republic of Kazakhstan is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, consists of the present Law, other standard legal certificates of the Republic Kazakhstan, concerning the usage and development of languages.

The legislation on languages extends on citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on foreigners and persons without the citizenship, constantly living in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Article 4. The State language of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The State language of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the Kazakh language. The state language - language of the government, the legislation, legal proceedings and the office-work, operating in all spheres of public relations in all territory of the state.
Debt of each citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan is mastering by a state language which is the major factor of consolidation of the people of Kazakhstan.
The government and other state, local representative and executive powers are obliged:
In every possible way to develop a state language in Republic of Kazakhstan, to strengthen its international authority;
To create all necessary organizational, material and technical conditions for fluently and free of charge mastering by a state language by all citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
To assist the Kazakh  diaspora in preservation and native language development.

Article 5. The usage of Russian language
 
In state institutions and local administration bodies with the Kazakh official is used equally Russian language .

Article 6. State recognition of languages

Every citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan has the right to use their native language, to free choice of language for communication, education, learning and creativity.
             

The State shall promote conditions for the study and development of languages of the people of Kazakhstan.

In places of compact residence of national teams for events can be used in their languages.

Article 7. Inadmissibility of interference with the functioning of languages

In the Republic of Kazakhstan the infringement of civil rights on the basis of language isn’t allowed.
 Actions by officials that impede the functioning and the study of state and other languages represented in Kazakhstan, are punishable in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Chapter 2. LANGUAGE  IN THE STATE AND NONE STATE ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION BODIES

Article 8. Usage of the languages 

Language of work and office-work of state structures, the organizations of local governments of the  Republic of Kazakhstan is the state language, equally with Kazakh language Russian language is used officially.

The non-state organizations use state language and, if necessary, other languages.

Article 9. Language of certificates of the state structures

Certificates of state structures are developed and accepted in state language, their working out can be conducted in Russian with maintenance, whenever possible, translated into other languages.
Article10. Language of conducting of the documentation
 
Conducting registration-statistical, financial and engineering specifications in the system of the state structures, organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, irrespective of patterns of ownership, is provided on the state and in Russian languages.

Participants of regional financial centre of the city Almaty have the right to conduct the documentation in state language both (or) Russian, and (or) English languages.

Article11. Language of answers to references of citizens

Answers of the state and not-state organizations to references of citizens and other documents are given in the state language or in reference language.

Article12. Language in Armed forces and law enforcement bodies

Functioning of the state and Russian languages is provided in the Armed forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan and also in all kinds of the military and militarized formations, in the organizations of the state control and supervision, a legal protection of citizens and in law enforcement bodies.

Article13. Language of the legal proceedings

Legal proceedings in the Republic of Kazakhstan are conducted in state language, and, if it necessary, in legal proceedings equally Russian or other languages are used.

Article 14. Language of proceedings on administrative violations 
Proceedings on administrative violations conducted in the official language, and if necessary, and in other languages.

Article15. Language of transaction 

All transactions of natural and legal bodies in the Republic of Kazakhstan, made in writing, are recited in state language and Russian language with the appendix in necessary cases of translating into other languages.

Transactions with foreign natural and the legal bodies, made in writing, are recited in  state and in language acceptable to the both parties.

Participants of regional financial centre of city Almaty have the right to conclude transactions on state and (or) Russian, and (or) English languages.

Chapter 3. LANGUAGE IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION,

 SCIENCE, CULTURE AND MASS MEDIA

Article16. Language in the sphere of education

In the Republic of Kazakhstan creation of the children's preschool institutions functioning in state language, and in places of compact resident of national groups - and in their languages is provided.

Language of training, education in children's homes and the organizations equal to them is defined by local executive powers taking into account national structure of their contingent.

The Republic of Kazakhstan provides reception of an initial, basic, the secondary, technical and professional, post-secondary, the higher and post-graduate educations on state, Russian, and at necessity and possibility, in other languages. In the organizations of education the state language and Russian are obligatory subjects and belongs to the list of the disciplines included in the document about education.

Article17. Language in the sphere of science and culture

In the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of a science, including registration and defense of thesis, functioning of the state and Russian languages are provided.

Cultural actions are held in state and, if necessary , in other languages.

Article18. Language of the press and mass media

The Republic of Kazakhstan provides functioning of the state and other languages in printing editions and mass media.

With the view of creation of the necessary language environment and high-grade functioning of the state language the volume of transfers on broadcasting channels, irrespective from the forms of their property, in state language shouldn’t be less total volume of transfers in other languages.

Chapter 4. LANGUAGE IN THE NAMES OF SETTLEMENTS, PROPER NAMES, THE VISUAL INFORMATION

Article19. Order of usage of toponymic names, names of the organizations

The traditional, historically developed Kazakh names of settlements, streets, the areas, and also other physical and geographical objects in other languages should be reproduced according to transliteration rules.

Names of the state organizations, their structural divisions are given in the state and Russian languages. Names of the joint, foreign organizations - with a transliteration in the state and Russian languages.

Article 20. Writing of personal names, patronymics and surnames

The writing of personal names, patronymics, surnames in official documents should correspond to the legislation and standard legal certificates of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Article 21. Language of requisites and the visual information

Texts of the seals and stamps of state structures contain their names in state language.

Texts of the seals, stamps of the organizations, irrespective of patterns of ownership, are written in the state and Russian languages.

Forms, signboards, announcements, advertising, price-lists, other visual information are stated on state and Russian, and if necessary , and in other languages.

Commodity labels with special data, marks, instructions to the goods made in Kazakhstan, should contain the necessary information in the state and Russian languages.

Commodity labels with special data, marks, instructions to the goods of foreign manufacture are provided with translation into the state and Russian languages at the expense of means of the importing organizations.

All texts of the visual information settle down in a following order: at the left or from above - on the state language, on the right or from below - in Russian language, are written by identical letters on the size.  As required texts of the visual information can be resulted in addition and in other languages. Thus font sizes should not exceed the requirements established by standard legal certificates. The oral information, announcements, advertising are given on the state, Russian and, if necessary , in other languages.

Article22. Language in the field of communication

In the field of communication within the Republic of  Kazakhstan functioning of the state and Russian languages is provided. Postal and telegraphic departures from the Republic of Kazakhstan carried out according to the established international rules.

Chapter 5. THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF LANGUAGES

Article 23. The state protection of languages

State and all other languages are in the Republic of Kazakhstan under the state protection. State structures create necessary conditions for functioning and development of these languages.
Development of languages is provided with a Government program providing priority level of a state language phased transition of office-work on the Kazakh language.

The list of trades, specialties and appointments for which the knowledge of a state language in certain volume and according to qualifying requirements is necessary, is established by Republic Kazakhstan laws.

By the government of the Republic of  Kazakhstan  are created terminological and the onomastics commissions and, if necessary , other structures.

Article 24. A responsibility of legislative contempt on languages

The first heads of state structures either responsible secretaries or other officials defined by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the organizations of any pattern of ownership, and also legal and the natural persons guilty of infringement of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about languages are responsible according to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Refusal of the official in acceptance of references of citizens, motivating state language ignorance, and also any preventing to the use state and other languages in sphere of their functioning involve the responsibility provided by laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Article 25. The competence of the authorized body

The authorized body:

1) provides realization of integrated state policy in the sphere of development of languages;

2) develops the program of functioning and development of languages and other standard legal certificates;

3) carries out the control over observance of the legislation of the  Republic of Kazakhstan about languages in the central and local executive powers of areas (cities of republican value, capitals);

4) makes recommendations about elimination of infringements of the requirements established by the legislation of the  Republic of Kazakhstan about languages, makes offers in corresponding bodies about application of measures of summary punishment to the officials guilty of infringement of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about languages;

5) will organize information, methodical maintenance of activity on realization of a integrated state policy in  the sphere of development of languages;

6) co-ordinates activity of the  terminological and onomastics commissions.

Article 25-1. The competence of the onomastics commissions

1. Republican onomastics commission is created by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a view of:

1) entering of conclusions about the name and renaming of areas, areas and cities, and also changes of a transcription of their names to the President of  the Republic of Kazakhstan;

2) entering of the conclusions about the name and renaming of physical-geographical,  toponymic, industrial and other objects being in the sphere of its competence to the President of  the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2. Regional onomastics commissions are created by local executive powers of areas with a view of preparation and entering of following conclusions about the name and renaming:

1) auls (villages), settlements,  districts, and also change of a transcription of their names;

2) the physical-geographical, toponymic, industrial and other objects which are in the sphere of the competence of local executive powers of area.

3. City onomastic commissions are created:

1) local executive powers of a city of republican value, capital with a view of preparation and entering of following conclusions about the name and renaming:

Areas in a city, the areas, prospectuses, parkways, streets, lanes, parks, squares of bridges and other components of a city, and also change of a transcription of their names;

The physical-geographical, toponymic, industrial and other objects which are in the sphere of the competence of local executive powers of a city of republican value, capitals;

2) local executive powers of a city of regional value with a view of preparation and entering of following conclusions about the name and renaming: areas in a city, the areas, prospectuses, parkways, streets, lanes, parks, squares, bridges and other components of a city, and also change of a transcription of their names.

Article 25-2. The competence of a local executive office of area (city of republican value, capital)

Local executive office of area (city of republican value, capital):

1) develops and confirms the regional program of functioning and development of languages and provides its performance;

2) carries out the control over observance of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about languages territorial divisions of the central executive powers and regional executive powers;

3) makes recommendations about elimination of infringements of the requirements established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about languages, makes offers in corresponding bodies about application of measures of summary punishment to the officials guilty of infringement of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about languages;

4) carries out a series of measures of the regional value, directed on development state and other languages;

5) provides activity regional (cities of republican value, capital) the onomastic commissions.
Article 25-3. The competence of a local executive office of area (city of regional value)

Local executive office of area (city of regional value):

1) develops and provides realization of plan of measures on realization in area territory (a city of regional value) regional program of functioning and development of languages;

2) carries out actions regional (cities of regional value) the level, directed on development state and other languages;

3) makes offers in executive powers of areas about the name and renaming of the villages, settlements, rural districts, and also change of their transcription.

Article 26. It is excluded according to Law of the RК from 20.12.04 № 13-III

 Chapter 6. USAGE OF LANGUAGES IN RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Article 27. Language in the international activities

Activity of diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the  Republic of Kazakhstan representations at the international organizations is carried out in state language with usage of other languages.

Bilateral international contracts consist, as a rule, in state languages of contracting parties, multilateral international contracts - in the languages defined under the consent of participants of the contract.
Formal receptions and other actions with representatives of other states in the Republic of Kazakhstan are spent in state language with translations into other languages.

The President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
N. Nazarbayev