“Showcasing Kazakhstan’s beauty“: ecology ministry comments on Pavel Durov’s video

Tengrinews.kz - Pavel Durov will not face penalties for swimming in Kolsai Lake, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan said.
The founder of VKontakte and Telegram sparked public debate after posting a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake. Authorities at the Kolsai Lakes National Park previously noted that swimming in the area is prohibited and opened an internal investigation. The park’s regulations provide for a fine of 10 monthly calculation indices (39,320 tenge in 2025) for violations.
Durov later shared another video from the icy waters of Kolsai Lake, showing him lifting an iron rod from the lake bed with the words, “We need to clean the lake.”
According to Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Administrative Police Alexey Milyuk, responsibility for the incident falls under the Ministry of Ecology.
The ministry confirmed that its internal investigation found no warning signs prohibiting swimming at Kolsai-2 Lake, where Durov swam.

“Therefore, these actions do not constitute a violation. The incident was unintentional and did not affect the ecological sustainability of the area,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also noted that Durov’s video helped promote Kazakhstan’s tourism potential.

“The content posted on Pavel Durov’s personal account, which has over 10 million followers, served as an image-building showcase of Kazakhstan’s natural beauty for a broad international audience. Such exposure significantly contributes to promoting the country’s tourism potential,” the ministry added.

Authorities emphasized that the situation highlights the importance of systematically informing tourists about rules for visiting specially protected natural areas.