This article examines the dangers posed by the presence of a large Russian minority in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The detailed analysis of the situation in the period from 1991 to 2021 has made it possible to identify not only the dangers, but also the ways in which the Kremlin takes advantage of this issue to exert major pressure on Kazakhstan’s political decision makers to promote Russia’s vital interests. The paper looks at the measures taken by the authorities in Nur-Sultan, the main purpose of which is to limit Russian influence in the republic, as well as the negative impact of the adopted mechanisms on the growth of participation of ethnic Kazakhs in the socio-political life of the state.