In the Mangystau Region of Kazakhstan, Uzbek blogger Ilkhomjon Yolchiyev has been issued an administrative fine. This follows a video he posted on Instagram showing him driving an SUV directly into the waters of the Caspian Sea. The footage was captured near the Bozzhira area, with the vehicle fully submerged in the water.

The video quickly went viral on social media, garnering around 30,000 views and sparking widespread public debate. It prompted discussions on tourist behavior rules in natural zones of the region, with many users condemning the blogger's actions as environmentally hazardous and illegal.

The incident later drew the attention of law enforcement authorities. According to the Mangystau Region Police Department, the driver was held accountable under Article 505 of Kazakhstan's Administrative Offenses Code ("Violation of rules for the improvement of territories of cities and settlements"). He was fined 86,500 tenge, equivalent to approximately 2.2 million Uzbek soums.

Police officials emphasized the need to adhere to environmental and administrative regulations when visiting tourist areas. This case also invites comparisons to a previous incident where a blogger from Navoi staged a fake death for hype and paid a substantial fine, raising questions about the consequences of creating sensational content on social media platforms.

Source: podrobno.uz