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What's important to understand about Kazakhstan's Nursultan Nazarbaev resignation is that it's part of a transition plan that has been in the making for at least 2,5 years. Nazarbaev wants to become a Kazakh Lee Kwan Yew. Here is how it works 1/ 
The likely trigger for planing a transition in Kazakhstan was death of Uzbekistan's strongman Islam Karimov on September 2, 2016 and change of power. The lesson for Nazarbaev was: if you want to keep your loved ones free, alive and wealthy, dying in office isn't an option 2/
The first important move was appointment of Karim Masimov as head of the domestic security agency, KNB. Under Masimov, KNB has cleaned up the Kazakh elite setting the stage for transition 3/
Nazarbaev has initiated reform of the Constitution in 2017, weakening power of the President and strengthening the cabinet. In July 2018 the parliament has passed a new law on the Security Council, expanding the role of this body and its chairman, a job that Nazarbaev keeps 4/
Through combination of chairmanship at the Security Council, the ruling party "Nur Otan", and special role of the first president (elbasi) Nazarbaev will maintain hold on some of the most powerful tools in the country 5/
The interim president Kasymzhomart Tokaev is one of the most trusted allies of Nazarbaev, and is unlikely pose a challenge to Nazarbaev's grip on real power in the future 6/
As an experienced diplomat and a China-watcher, Tokaev is competent to help manage relations with Moscow and Beijing, two most important partners for Kazakhstan 7/
Nazarbaev has clearly discussed his plans with Putin, so the Russian leader is not surprised. The Kremlin will watch transition in Kazakhstan very attentively, and may think about using some of Nazarbaev's moves as 2024 approaches 8/
