For the first time in the post-Soviet history Kazakhstan has openly announced its plans to take Baikonur into the Kazakh state sole possession. 

      The Presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan are said to have already been through the first round of negotiations. The withdrawal of the lease agreement, should it commence, will be gradual, the Head of the Kazakh Space Committee has said. The Kazakh side understands that to end the agreement abrubtly would lead to an international crisis in the space industry, but step-by-step withdrawal is feasible. 

      The first stage is expected to involve the Zenith cosmodrome: Kazakhstan plans to first become the sole proprietors there. Subsequently, the country plans to take the city Baikonur back into Kazakh sole possession. Presently Baikonur, which is located in Kazakh territory and is technically a Kazakh town, is lent to Russia. 

      The State Duma is said to not see the necessity to stop the lease agreement before the year 2050.