Borat-Worthy Stunt Ends Badly in Kazakhstan

6 Czech tourists detained for wearing mankinis
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 16, 2017 10:50 AM CST
Tourists Detained for Wearing Mankinis in Kazakhstan
In this image made available by informburo.kz on Wednesday, Czech tourists dressed in swimsuits made famous by the character Borat are seen in Astana on Friday.   (informburo.kz, via AP)

Six Czech tourists who dressed up in skimpy swimsuits made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character have reportedly been detained by authorities in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana. Sporting lime-green "mankinis" and black wigs, the men had hoped to take a picture in front of the "I Love Astana" sign. But local police took action, detaining them on Friday and fining them $68 each for committing minor hooliganism, per the Kazakh news website informburo.kz.

The swimsuit became popular after Baron Cohen, playing the fictional Kazakh television presenter Borat, sported it in the 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, per the AP. That film offended many Kazakhs by portraying the country as backward and degenerate.

(More Kazakhstan stories.)

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