Official information, as it is understood in Semey

In early September, the information agency "Semey Ainasy" (founded by NGO "Semipalatinsk city Association of young journalists") applied to Meir Eskendirov, the rector of Semey State University named after Shakarim,  about the lot  for the preparation and publication of information materials in the media announced by the university. Journalists learned about it from the website of the             state procurement goszakup.gov.kz. The editorial office asked the rector to tell where and when the materials were published and asked for the links to those materials.

A week later, the news agency received a reply signed by the acting  rector M. Abdikarimov. He explained what an official message is, and pointed out that  "the internet resource goszakup.gov.kz is not a media outlet becuse it is not registered with an authorized body, the information posted on that site can not be qualified as official communications. "In this regard, the University  asks to follow the norms of the Law (" On Mass Media "- note of Adil Soz)" in future".

The news agency considers the refusal to provide information illegal, therefore it filed a complaint against the actions of the university to the Semey City Court.

Commentary of "Adil soz"

The University violated the requirements of Art. 6 of the Law on Access to Information. According to this norm of the law, access to information on republican and local budgets formation and expenditure  can not be restricted.

The site "goszakup.gov.kz" is part of the state program "open government" and thus contains official information.

By the way, employees of the university should know that in accordance with the paragraph 4 of Art. 1 of the Law "On Mass Media", Internet resources are recognized as means of mass communication. At the same time, the legislator does not require every Internet resource to be registered with the Ministry of Information as a media outlet.