Czechs fined for sporting Borat mankinis in Kazakhstan

PRAGUE — Six Czech tourists who dressed up in skimpy swimsuits made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat” reportedly were detained by authorities in Kazakhstan’s capital, 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 Friday and fining them 22,500 tenge ($68) each for committing minor hooliganism, according to the Kazakh news website www.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.”

That film offended many Kazakhs by portraying the country as backward and degenerate.

Pertinent address:

Astana, Kazakhstan