Pavel Durov - The Times Of Central Asia

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Pavel Durov

Kazakhstan Finds No Violations in Pavel Durov’s Swim in Protected Lake

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.

Pavel Durov

Kazakhstan Investigates Telegram Founder Pavel Durov for Swimming in Protected Kolsai Lake

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.

AI Laboratory

Pavel Durov’s Telegram Launches AI Laboratory at Alem.ai in Astana

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has announced the launch of a dedicated artificial intelligence laboratory in Astana, housed within the newly inaugurated International Artificial Intelligence Center, Alem.ai. The Alem.ai center was officially opened on Thursday during the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Kazakhstan’s capital. At the opening ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the center as a future global hub for the effective and ethical application of artificial intelligence. The initiative will bring together both domestic and international developers, with Telegram among the first companies to establish operations at the site. “A year ago, we opened our first regional office in Kazakhstan, and today we are pleased to launch a specialized AI laboratory inside Alem.ai,” Durov said. “This is a joint project between Telegram and Kazakhstan’s national supercomputer cluster, established by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence. The technology will allow more than one billion people to use AI functions privately, transparently, and efficiently. We hope that Kazakhstan’s supercomputer cluster will become the first major provider of computing power for this network.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan launched the region’s most powerful supercomputer earlier this year. At the Digital Bridge 2025 forum, President Tokayev announced plans for a second cluster. On the sidelines of the event, he also met with Pavel Durov to discuss cooperation in education, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, according to the presidential press service. “The President highly appreciated Telegram’s contribution to advancing Kazakhstan’s digital agenda: the company officially joined Astana Hub, opened an office in Kazakhstan, and launched AI laboratories at Alem.ai,” the statement said. “For his part, Pavel Durov briefed Tokayev on prospects for joint projects in artificial intelligence.” Tokayev also discussed venture investment opportunities and the development potential of Kazakhstani AI startups with Stanford University professor Ilya Strebulaev. In addition, Tokayev held meetings with Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health and former COO of G42. The talks focused on expanding Kazakh-Emirati cooperation in AI, including the ongoing Smart City project, which Tokayev called a milestone in bilateral relations. Tokayev also announced plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence University in Kazakhstan, with a strong focus on research and development. According to the presidential press service, he noted the importance of drawing on the UAE’s experience, where the world’s first IT-focused university is already in operation.

Pavel Durov

Public in Uzbekistan Concerned About Pavel Durov’s Arrest

The arrest of the founder of the popular Telegram messaging app, Pavel Durov, in Paris on August 24 on charges of illegal activities including enabling drug trafficking, crimes against minors, and fraud has caused public discussion and unease in Uzbekistan, where use of the platform is widespread. Durov’s visit to Uzbekistan in June highlighted the platform’s deep integration into daily life in the country. “Uzbekistan loves Telegram: over 70% of the country’s 37 million people are on Telegram, and their entire economy is run on our platform - every business in the country has a Telegram bot or channel. We are proud of this popularity and love Uzbekistan,” Durov stated during his visit. Across the nation, people are now worried that Telegram may be switched off, and are talking and writing about the need to choose an alternative messenger to share files and communicate. Comments such as “Free Durov” can be found under an abundance of news and social media posts, whilst another group of users believes that such an extensive network cannot be destroyed so easily. Political scientist Hamid Sadiq told the Firkat analytical program that Durov’s arrest could be part of a more extensive planned program. Describing Durov as Telegram's “face” and his brother Nikolai as its “brain,” Sadiq noted that no one has yet been able to crack Telegram's encryption, and today, the messenger continues to work without bans in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and even China. The political scientist describes Durov as an "anarchist," unlike Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs. Stating that Durov disagrees with Putin’s regime and pointing to the conflict with Vkontakte in Russia in 2014, Sadiq states that he considers the accusations against Durov to be absurd, and that Durov was granted French citizenship in 2021 “for his great political services.” As the situation develops, the impact of Durov’s arrest on Telegram’s future remains unclear. Yesterday, the Times of Central Asia reported on the reaction to this event in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Both the Russian and Ukrainian military use Telegram, with Russia’s war machine particularly reliant, and any cracks in its encryption could prove particularly disastrous to Russia’s war effort. However, as Telegram messages are not end-to-end encrypted as they are in Signal and WhatsApp – meaning they can be read by Telegram’s staff - the platform has been left open to requests to cooperate in the dissemination of data to state actors. It seems that what sets Telegram apart, attempting to bridge the gap between being a messenger app and a social media platform, may prove to be its downfall. As this story develops, it appears the public in Central Asia are right to have cause for concern.

Freedom of Speech

How Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Have Reacted to Pavel Durov’s Arrest

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He is suspected of illegal activities including enabling drug trafficking, crimes against minors, and fraud. His arrest has been met with shock around the world, especially in countries where censorship and internet control remain pressing. According to various sources, the French authorities suspect Durov of being involved in activities related to the distribution of illegal content through the Telegram messenger. The investigation concerns materials related to extremism, copyright infringement, and alleged assistance to criminal groups. The investigation lasted several months. In response, Telegram said that it has always strictly complied with the law, and is ready to cooperate with French authorities to clarify the situation, expressing hope for a fair investigation and Durov's speedy release. In Kazakhstan, where Durov has long been known for his stance against censorship, his arrest has not gone unnoticed. The Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiev, made a statement that said: “We had a positive experience interacting with the Telegram team. We have often successfully and promptly resolved issues related to the leakage of personal data, the fight against drug trafficking, and the suppression of other illegal activities in the messenger. The Telegram team has always demonstrated a willingness to cooperate to ensure the safety of citizens while remaining true to its principles of protecting privacy and freedom of speech.” He also noted that on his last visit to Kazakhstan, Pavel Durov became one of the trustees of the IQanat project, which aims to support rural children in Kazakhstan. The project has awarded 12 grants worth $365,000. Madiev continued: “He did not just allocate money but personally participated in studying the educational process, selecting children, familiarizing himself with their lives. I am grateful to Pavel's team for caring, and his sincere interest in the development of the children. We hope for a speedy resolution of this situation.” The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan also expressed support for Durov, calling on the French authorities to ensure respect for his fundamental rights and freedoms, and to conduct an objective investigation into the case. “The detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov has caused concern among all those who fight for freedom, democracy, and the principles of free speech. It is important to take into account that in several countries where officially registered independent democratic media regularly face persecution or cease to exist at all, where blocking of websites is regularly practiced, Telegram, created by Pavel Durov, is currently almost the only source of bringing to the public objective and reliable information free from censorship,” the statement said. The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan recalled that in 2018, Pavel Durov received an award from the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan, precisely for his principled position against censorship. His arrest could negatively affect freedom of speech and human rights in developing countries with fragile democracies. The response in Kyrgyzstan was more restrained than that of the Kazakhstani authorities. None...

Pavel Durov Investment Issyk-Kul

Pavel Durov’s Visit to Issyk-Kul Sparks Investment Hopes

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and VK, has visited the Issyk-Kul region in Kyrgyzstan, generating significant interest amidst speculations about a potential investment in a large-scale project. The government are currently keen on attracting investment in the Three Peaks ski resort, and local authorities believe that his involvement could substantially enhance the potential of the project. Durov’s presence as an investor is seen as a strategic move that could attract additional capital and provide invaluable advertising support. Durov is traveling with Russian blogger Huseyn Gasanov, whom sources suggest could play a mediating role in the negotiations with the local authorities. The presence of Durov and Gasanov has not gone unnoticed by locals. The pair were recently spotted at the Petroglyphs Park in Cholpon-Ata, sparking rumors and excitement among residents. Many hope that this high-profile visit will lead to concrete investment plans and significantly boost the local economy.