Corruption in Kazakhstan is taking on an irreversible character. Everyone acknowledges this. World society is concerned by the scale of corrupt activity in Kazakhstan. According to statements by republic officials, international organizations, and domestic sociological services, corruption in Kazakhstan has begun to present a real threat to stability and national security. It is hindering democratic transformation and the creation of a law-based civil society in the country. Corruption harms essential government bodies and entrepreneurship. The export of crude oil and rare-earth metals, arms sales, and drug trafficking are all becoming foci of corruption. This paper examines the main conditions contributing to the development of corruption in Kazakhstan. In the author’s opinion, corruption is the main ----tangible result of Kazakh reforms conducted during the ten-year transition period.