Word has it that the Kazakhstan President contacted Robert Kocharian to ask if we were with them or against them? This had something to do with the Armenian (who happens to be a close friend of mine) in the movie.

YOU decide - come and vote at http://safiaaoude.blogspot.com/

Russia has banned the hit comedy film, Borat, which has been accused of poking fun at Moscow’s neighbour and close ally Kazakhstan.

The film stars British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen as a spoof reporter on a trip to the US.

A senior official at Russia’s culture ministry has told the BBC it will not provide a distribution licence.

The film has been described as a “mockumentary” which follows Mr Cohen’s journey across the US.

On the way, he has a series of real-life encounters with unsuspecting Americans in which he makes the most outrageous, sexist, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic comments.

[…]

Some reviewers have described it as “hysterical” and “the funniest film of the year”.

But there are others - not least the government of Kazakhstan - who say it is deeply offensive.

One Kazakh diplomat says that the depiction of his country as violent, primitive and oppressive bears no resemblance to reality.

And it seems the Russian authorities are also not amused.

Interestingly, while Borat manages to poke fun at the Americans as well, the BBC reports that it proved more popular than current Hollywood films when it opened stateside.

Spoof Kazakh reporter Borat - aka Ali G comedian Sacha Baron Cohen - has scored a surprise box office hit in the US.

The film - with its naked wrestling and toilet humour - took $26.4m (£13.9m) in the US and Canada at the weekend, more than double estimated forecasts.

It was expected to open in the top five, but well behind The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, which opened in second place with $20m (£10.53m).

Borat opened in just 837 cinemas, while Santa Clause 3 debuted in 3,458.

Meanwhile the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan has invited Sacha Baron Cohen to visit his country.

“I’d like to invite Cohen here. He can discover a lot of things,” said deputy foreign minister Rakhat Aliyev.

In the film, Cohen’s character Borat portrays Kazakhs as a nation of misogynists, racists and anti-Semites.

[…]

Mr Aliyev told local news agency Kazakhstan Today that Cohen could learn “women drive cars, wine is made of grapes, and Jews are free to go to synagogues”.

[…]

Kazakhstan’s largest chain of cinemas, Otau, said in September that it will not be showing the film.

“We consider this movie offensive, a complete lie and nonsense,” distribution manager Ruslan Sultanov told Reuters.

“It’s a shame that some Americans will probably believe what they see there,” he added.

The Kazakh authorities also shut down Cohen’s website, www.borat.kz, leading him to set up a new one, www.borat.tv.