Translated by IRIS Georgia Updated as of March 2004 1. An interested party to an administrative proceeding may access the materials of an administrative proceeding, except for interdepartmental documents that are directly related to the preparation of an administrative act. 2. When the interest to access a particular document overweighs the interest to protect a secret, an interested person may access materials containing state, commercial, or personal secret in cases prescribed by the law and pursuant to applicable court decision. 3. An interested party may access the materials of an administrative proceeding at the administrative agency that conducts the proceeding. 4. In special cases, by filing a written request an interested party may access the materials of an administrative proceeding at another administrative agency or Georgian consulate based in another state. 5. An interested party to an administrative proceeding may seek copies of the documents and other materials of an administrative proceeding. An interested party to an administrative proceeding may obtain copies of the case materials containing state, commercial, or personal secret only in the events prescribed by the law or pursuant to applicable court decision. 6. No fees shall be charged or obstacles created for obtaining a copy, copying or mailing a document or other material, except for legally permissible payment. Article 100. Decision-making 1. Unless otherwise prescribed by law or applicable regulation, an administrative agency shall decide to issue or not to issue an administrative act within one month after an application is filed. 2. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, the administrative act that affects the interests of a third party shall be issued within 15 days after an application is filed. 3. If the discovery of vital case-related circumstances requires the extension of the term prescribed by applicable legislation for issuing an administrative act, the administrative agency shall set the term for issuing the act upon the commencement of the administrative proceeding. 4. In cases stipulated by Paragraph 3 of this Article, the entire term for issuing an administrative act shall not exceed three months. Article 101. The submission of opinion by an applicant upon the denial to issue an administrative act 1. Before issuing the administrative act denying to comply with an application, the administrative agency shall enable the applicant to present his opinion regarding arguments against the application, if: (a) the denial is based upon the information about the applicant, or (b) the information constituting the ground for the denial differs from that submitted by the applicant. 2. If law or applicable regulation prescribes no other term, an applicant shall present his opinion regarding the circumstances stipulated by Paragraph 1 of this Article within five days. Page 31 of 54