Telegram CEO Swims in Protected Lake
Kazakh Authorities Conclude 'No Law Was Broken'
"No 'No Swimming' Sign Present"
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram and a native of Russia, became embroiled in controversy after posting a video of himself swimming in a protected lake within a national park in Kazakhstan. However, local authorities have concluded that no laws were violated.
On October 14, Kyrgyzstan-based media outlet Times of Central Asia (TCA) reported that Durov recently visited Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to attend the 'Digital Bridge 2025' forum. Afterward, he posted a video on his Telegram channel showing himself swimming in a local nature reserve.
Following his visit to Astana, Durov traveled to the Almaty region, where he shared a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake, which is located within a national park in the area.
However, the lake where Durov entered the water is a protected area where swimming and fishing are prohibited. According to local law, violating the rules of a protected area can result in a fine of up to 72 dollars (approximately 100,000 won).
Once this fact became known, controversy spread, particularly on local social networking services (SNS), and the Kolsai Lake National Park Management Office announced that it had launched an official investigation.
Aleksei Milyuk, Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Police Committee, stated, "Based on media reports and SNS posts, we have collected relevant materials and forwarded them to the Ministry of Ecology." He added, "Whether legal action will be taken against Pavel Durov is under review by the environmental authorities," and continued, "It is possible that only a warning will be issued, and the maximum fine that can be imposed is 72 dollars."
As the controversy grew, Durov also offered an explanation through a video. He appeared holding a metal rod and said, "I saw a metal object at the bottom of the lake and entered the water to remove it."
However, the Ministry of Ecology of Kazakhstan concluded that there was no violation in Durov's actions. In a press release on October 13, the Ministry stated that there was no 'No Swimming' sign installed at the site near Kolsai Lake No. 2 where Durov entered the water. "There was no indication of a violation in Durov's actions; it was not intentional, and it did not harm the environment," the Ministry explained.
The Ministry of Ecology added that this incident served as an important opportunity to raise awareness about the rules of protected areas. "The video posted on Durov's personal account, which has more than 10 million followers, has helped promote the beauty of Kazakhstan's nature to the world. We consider this a meaningful contribution to enhancing the country's tourism potential," the Ministry stated.
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