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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.
The government of Tajikistan has submitted a legislative proposal to parliament that would ban the use of fortune-telling and other esoteric services, and introduce fines for clients, Asia-Plus reported. If passed, the amendments would add a new clause to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses titled “Use of services of a sorcerer, magician, or fortune-teller.” Under the proposed law, individuals caught seeking such services would face fines ranging from five to ten calculation indicators, equivalent to 375-750 somoni (approximately $40-80). This initiative is part of a broader crackdown on esoteric and mystical practices in recent years. In mid-2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that citizens who visited fortune-tellers would be summoned by authorities and entered into a database containing their names and photographs. Officials said the goal was to curb demand and ultimately eliminate the practice. The number of individuals summoned has not been disclosed. Penalties for fortune-tellers themselves were significantly strengthened in 2024. Amendments to Article 482 increased fines for practitioners to 80-100 calculation indicators and introduced administrative detention of up to 15 days. In addition, criminal liability was introduced under Article 240 of the Criminal Code: repeat offenders may now face fines of 1,500-2,000 base units or imprisonment for one to two years. Previously, only administrative penalties applied. The government claims the measures are designed to combat fraud and protect citizens from exploitation. However, critics argue that the proposed restrictions could spark debate over personal freedoms and traditional cultural practices. In 2024, The Times of Central Asia reported that Tajik authorities were also considering the introduction of compulsory labor for up to six months as a punishment for engaging in fortune-telling, sorcery, or witchcraft.
