Kazakhstan v. Borat?

Today there was a four page advertising insert in the NY Times where Kazakhstan proclaims it’s modern infastructure and attitudes, all in a refutation of the jokes made by the character of Borat. No explicit reference to Borat is made in the supplement, but the country’s leaders are stinging from his hosting of the European MTV Video Awards. There’s even been some indication they want to sue. (Are there any links out there to his European VMA performance? I’d love to see for myself what’s got them so outraged - considering he beat them up for two seasons on HBO before that.)

Borat’s true alias, Sasha Baron Cohen, isn’t afraid of any threats and is having some fun with this. Below, a transcript of Borat’s earlier video response:

“Jagshemash. In response to Ashykbayev’s comments, I like to state I have no connection with Mr. Cohen and fully support my government’s decision to sue this Jew.

“Since the 2003 (unintelligible) reforms, Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world. Women can now travel on inside of bus, homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hats and age of consent has been raised to 8 years old.

“Please, I invite you to come to Kazakhstan, where we have incredible natural resources, hard-working labor and some of the cleanest prostitutes in all of central Asia. Goodbye. Chenque.”

UPDATE: Some quotes from Borat’s hosting of the MTV Europe VMA’s. And watch Borat promos from European VMA website (scroll on the right). And thanks to Matt for a more accurate transcript of Borat’s response.