On signing the Law on Amendments to the Constitution and Presidential Decree on renaming the capital

Today, on March 23, the President of Kazakhstan, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, signed the Law on Amendments to the Constitution, in accordance with which Nur-Sultan is the capital of Kazakhstan. The President also signed a decree on renaming the capital.
Marat Beketayev noted that amendments to the Constitution on renaming the capital were made in full accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.The Minister of justice spoke about the legal intricacies of this procedure.
The Ministry of justice had prepared a draft Decree for submission to the President for a referendum on the renaming of the capital, as provided for in article 91 of the Constitution.The Government sent this proposal in the form of a resolution to Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev.According to the law, in this case, the President or the person who has assumed his powers must take one of three decisions:
1) refer the issue to Parliament,
2) submit the question to the republican referendum,
3) reject the proposal to amend the Constitution.
The President chose the first option and referred the issue to the Parliament.The Supreme legislative authority, in turn, at a joint session of the Chambers adopted the law on amendments to the Constitution.It should be noted that the Parliament may adopt it in the presence of a positive opinion of the constitutional Council on compliance with the requirements of paragraph 2 of article 91 of the Constitution, which was granted.
The law is then signed by the speakers of the houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister and sent to the President for signature.Since the signing of the law on amendments to the Constitution came into force.
 The Minister of justice explained that in accordance with the Law "On administrative-territorial structure of the Republic of Kazakhstan" also carried out the work necessary for renaming the capital, as a result of which the President signed a Decree on renaming the capital.
In accordance with the established procedure, the Government makes representations to the President on the name and renaming of regions, districts, cities.This happens on the basis of the conclusion of the Republican Onomastic Commission and taking into account the opinion of the population of the relevant territory, its local representative and executive authorities.
For this purpose, the opinion of the population of the relevant territory is taken into account by holding public hearings in the permanent commissions of the maslikhat, following which the Protocol is drawn up.n this case, the hearing was held on March 20 and the relevant Protocol is posted on the website astana.gov.kz.On the basis of the hearings and Protocol, the city maslikhat and akimat made a proposal to the Republican onomastic Commission.It's positive opinion on the proposal to rename the city was received on March 20.
The Minister of justice once again stressed,that despite the short time, all procedures were carried out in strict accordance with the current legislation.
Marat Beketayev noted that the decision to give the capital the name of Elbasy – Nur-Sultan-is the most important event in the history of Kazakhstan.