Pavel Durov, founder of the Russian messaging app Telegram, may face an administrative fine in Kazakhstan after posting a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake, a protected natural area where swimming and fishing are prohibited.
Durov arrived in Kazakhstan in early October to participate in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana, later visiting Almaty. During the trip, he shared a video on his own Telegram channel that showed him emerging from the waters of Kolsai Lake in the Almaty region. The post sparked widespread reaction on social media, given the lake’s status as part of a national park with strict visitation rules.
Under Kazakh law, violations of protected area regulations are punishable by a fine of up to $72.
The Kolsai Lakes National Park administration confirmed that an official investigation is underway. Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Police Committee, Alexei Milyuk, said the case has been referred to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
“We have collected materials based on media reports and social media posts, registered them, and forwarded them to the appropriate authorities,” Milyuk told reporters. “The question of bringing Pavel Durov to justice is now being considered by the environmental authorities.”
He added that penalties may be limited to a warning, with $72 being the maximum fine.
Durov later posted a follow-up video showing himself holding a metal rod, stating that he had entered the water to retrieve an object he noticed protruding from the lakebed in an effort to clean the area.
During his visit, Durov also announced the launch of Telegram’s AI Lab at the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.
