Deputies of Kazakhstan’s Qurultay have approved regulations setting out the schedule and procedures for sessions of the country’s new legislative body.

Deputy Snezhanna Imasheva presented the document to the chamber, Qazinform reports.

Under the approved rules, regular sessions will generally be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while hearings are scheduled for Fridays and government hours for Mondays.

A session will be considered valid if at least two-thirds of all deputies are present, meaning a minimum of 97 members.

Qurultay meetings will normally run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (GMT+5), with a break from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sessions will be convened by the Chairman of the Qurultay, although the chamber or its Bureau may decide to hold a session at another time.

Sessions are generally open to the public. However, the Qurultay may hold a closed meeting if proposed by the Chairman, the Bureau or a deputy and approved by a majority of those present.

Open sessions will be broadcast online, while all meetings will be transcribed and video-recorded. Transcripts of open sessions will also be published on the Qurultay’s official website.

The President of Kazakhstan, Vice President, Prime Minister, government members, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Khalyk Kenesi (People’s Council), National Bank Chairman, Prosecutor General, Chairman of the National Security Committee and Head of the Presidential Administration may attend and speak at any Qurultay session, including closed meetings.

The second session of Kazakhstan’s Qurultay has recently begun its work in Astana.