Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology has announced it will not fine Pavel Durov, the founder of the Russian messaging app Telegram, for swimming in Lake Kolsai, a specially protected natural area. According to the ministry, the video Durov posted from the lake serves to promote tourism in the country.
Durov arrived in Kazakhstan in early October to participate in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana. He later visited Almaty, where he published a video on his Telegram channel showing himself swimming in Lake Kolsai, located in a national park in the Almaty region. While the lake is part of a protected area where swimming is only permitted in designated zones, the video went viral and sparked public debate.
Following the publication, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs opened an investigation and forwarded the case to the Ministry of Ecology for review.
According to Kazakh law, unauthorized activity in protected natural zones can result in fines of up to $72. However, the Ministry of Ecology stated there were no grounds to hold Durov liable.
“There were no warning signs prohibiting swimming at the site near Lake Kolsai-2. Therefore, no violation was found. The situation was unintentional and did not affect the ecological sustainability of the area,” the ministry said in an official statement.
The ministry also emphasized the importance of improving public awareness among tourists regarding regulations in national parks to help preserve natural ecosystems and promote eco-tourism.
“The video material posted on Pavel Durov’s personal channel, which has over 10 million subscribers, was promotional in nature and showcased the natural beauty of Kazakhstan to a global audience. Such exposure is a valuable contribution to enhancing the country’s tourism profile,” the ministry added.
During his visit, Durov also announced the launch of a new artificial intelligence laboratory, Telegram AI Lab, at the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.
