Abstract. The voluntary resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev of the powers of the president was intended to ensure a peaceful and highly controlled transit of power in Kazakhstan. This was preceded by a rather lengthy process of formation of constitutional and legal conditions that allow the first president of Kazakhstan to retain important levers of power. His successor became Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Early presidential elections were due to a number of reasons, the main of which was the prevention of destabilization in the country. Today, the expresident continues to take an active part in the political life of Kazakhstan.