Belgian Fans Arrested in Kazakhstan for Borat Swimwear
On 22 January, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Sanjar Adilov reported the arrest of three Belgian fans who attended a football match in swimsuits resembling the costume of the character from the comedy film «Borat».
The incident occurred in Astana after a Champions League match. Supporters of the Belgian club Club Brugge came to the stands in bright swimwear, which attracted police attention. Video of them quickly spread on social media.
The court found the foreign citizens guilty of petty hooliganism. Each of them was sentenced to five days of administrative arrest.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan emphasized that the measures taken are in accordance with current legislation and rules of conduct in public places.
The film «Borat» is a 2006 mockumentary comedy in which British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen plays the fictional Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev. The character travels to the USA to shoot a report, but in reality is looking for actress Pamela Anderson. In Kazakhstan, the film is viewed ambiguously: on the one hand, it attracts tourists, on the other hand, the authorities believe the film contains elements of racism and xenophobia.
