Nursultan Nazarbayev, who signed on March 19 a decree on termination of his powers as the president of Kazakhstan from March 20, has appointed Mahmud Kasymbekov as head of his office, while Abay Bisembayev has been appointed as assistant to the first president - first deputy head of presidential affairs.

Axar.az reports citing RIA Novosti.

Nazarbayev served as president for almost 29 years - since April 24, 1990, when he was elected president of the then Kazakh USSR. In December 1991, he was elected as head of an already independent state. Previously, he worked as chairman of the council of ministers of the republic for five years, then, from 1989 to 1991, he was first secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan.

In accordance with the “Law on first President of Kazakhstan - the Leader of the Nation”, Nazarbayev, who has this status, due to his historic mission, has the lifelong right to appeal to the people of Kazakhstan, government bodies and officials with initiatives on the most important issues of state-building, domestic and foreign policy and the country's security, which are subject to mandatory review by the relevant government agencies and officials.

In addition, the first president has the right to speak before the parliament and its chambers at government meetings when discussing important issues for the country, head the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, head the security council, be a member of the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In accordance with the law, the initiatives that are being developed regarding the main directions of domestic and foreign policy of the state are coordinated with the first president - the Leader of the Nation.