During his official visit to Kazakhstan, Telegram founder Pavel Durov stirred controversy by posting a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake, a protected area where swimming is strictly prohibited. The video, shared on his Telegram channel with the comment “Swimming is great,” drew attention and concern from the National Park authorities. 

Officials reminded that swimming in Kolsai Lake constitutes an administrative violation under Kazakhstan’s law, carrying fines up to 39,320 tenge. Beyond legal issues, the lake’s icy water temperature, rarely exceeding 6-8°C even in summer, poses a serious risk of hypothermia. 

Authorities patrol the area but cannot vigilantly monitor all activities, making violations easy to miss. While some speculate the video might be edited or AI-generated, Durov’s posting suggests authenticity. His visit included meetings on digital and AI collaboration with President Tokayev, alongside the launch of a Telegram AI lab in Kazakhstan.

source: orda

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