Who will be punished for Pavel Durov’s swim in Kolsai – National Park responds

Tengrinews.kz – The State National Nature Park has commented on the viral video showing Pavel Durov, the creator of VKontakte and Telegram, swimming in the icy waters of Lake Kolsai in Almaty Region.
What the National Park said about Durov’s swim
According to park officials, swimming in the lakes is strictly prohibited under the official passport of the tourist route.

“An internal investigation has been launched by the park administration. Based on its results, disciplinary measures will be taken against the officials responsible for inadequate supervision of the designated area,” the statement said.

Pavel Durov’s swim in Lake Kolsai
Earlier, Durov posted a video of himself taking a dip in the cold mountain lake on his Telegram Stories, captioning it: “It was a good swim.”

Frame from video: t.me/durov
The footage shows the entrepreneur calmly entering the crystal-clear water of the scenic lake.

However, some users questioned whether swimming in the Kolsai lakes is allowed and whether it could result in a fine. According to national park rules, tourists are permitted to enter the water only in designated areas. Swimming in other zones or during the cold season is formally considered a violation.
Tengrinews.kz contacted the Department for the Protection of Natural Complexes of the national park, which confirmed that swimming in the lake is an administrative offense subject to a fine. The lake is closed for swimming for all visitors.
Violators face a penalty of 10 monthly calculation indices (MCI), which amounts to 39,320 tenge.
The Kolsai Lakes are a group of three scenic mountain lakes in the Zailiysky Alatau, Almaty Region, located at elevations from 1,800 to 2,500 meters above sea level. The water is crystal clear and cold, rarely exceeding 15°C even in summer.
Durov’s visit likely followed his participation in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana, where he was a guest speaker. Previously, he made a lighthearted joke about finding a wife and announced the opening of an AI laboratory in Kazakhstan.