The Majilis (lower chamber) of the Kazakh parliament approved the draft law "On ratification of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of aviation search and rescue." The agreement was reached in Astana on October 15, 2015. It regulates the organization and execution of search and rescue operations of aircraft, TASS agency reports.

"The agreement is aimed at cooperation between the search and rescue services of states to search for and rescue passengers and crews of aircraft that are in distress, in accordance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization," said Kazakhstan's Minister for Investment and Development Zhenis Kasymbek.

The bill defines the normative basis for conducting joint search and rescue operations. According to the document, each side provides in its area of ​​search and rescue the presence of aviation search and rescue services that carry out round-the-clock duty.

"The agreement provides for the parties' obligation to notify each other about the accident, the right of one party to request assistance from the other side in conducting search and rescue operations," Kasymbek explained. According to him, the agreement "creates a legal basis for joint exercises of search and rescue services of both sides, as well as the exchange of information and experience."

It is stipulated that the costs incurred in the implementation of search and rescue operations in its area of ​​responsibility, each party bears independently. According to the lawmaking procedure, after approval of the mazhilis, the draft law is sent to the upper house of parliament for consideration.