Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays the spoof Kazakh television reporter in his "Da Ali G Show," incurred the wrath of Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry this month after appearing as Borat at the annual MTV Europe Music Awards.

Borat is defiant.

Responding in character as Borat, Cohen, who is Jewish, said: "I like to state, I have no connection with Mr Cohen and fully support my government's position to sue this Jew."

"Since 2003 ... Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world," he said on his website, www.borat.kz.

"Women can now travel on inside of bus, homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hat and age of consent has been raised to eight years old."

A sympathetic Western diplomat points out that Kazakhstan is in an invidious position as Borat becomes its most public face.

"They are damned if they do (respond) and damned if they don't," he said. "It's sort of unfortunate that he hit upon Kazakhstan."

Other former Soviet republics are, however, quietly grateful.

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI

August 2004

NOV 26, 2005 09:56 AM

Eeeeeh, I like news repoooorrrt....eeeh I like borat very nice.

[Edited on Nov 26, 2005 by SuperNintendo]

jake_lex

Lexington, KY

February 2003

NOV 26, 2005 09:58 AM

"Since 2003 ... Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world," he said on his website, www.borat.kz.

Wow, that quote looks weird. "True, before 2002, we really sucked. But we've got running water and everything now."

Why are all those former Soviet Central Asian republics run by nutbars now? The psycho in Turkmenistan gets all the press, but this guy's about as bad.

Farhaad

Arcadia, CA

February 2005

NOV 26, 2005 09:59 AM

Hahahahahaha. The movie is gonna be awesome.

Holy_Mountain

West Palm Beach, FL

February 2004

NOV 26, 2005 10:40 AM

Last night I had sexy intercourse... high five!

RodVito

Winnipeg, MB

September 2005

NOV 26, 2005 10:50 AM

jake_lex said:

"Since 2003 ... Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world," he said on his website, www.borat.kz.

What are you talking about , exactly? Borat said that. Borat is Sacha..... Hes not really from Khazakhstan.

Neyrissa

SUICIDEGIRL

United Kingdom

NOV 26, 2005 11:15 AM

I love Borat, and Sacha is awesome. Don't be such turds, Khazakhstan! High five!

Evanx

Grand Rapids, MI

June 2003

NOV 26, 2005 11:17 AM

Take a joke, you crybaby country.

SomethingStupid

North Hollywood, CA

March 2004

NOV 26, 2005 11:22 AM

I tend to side with the "have a sense of humor" argument as well, but then again, if I were Kazakh and living in the US or UK, I'd probably be pretty fucking sick of people quoting Borat to me.

The_Reverend

United Kingdom

September 2004

NOV 26, 2005 11:27 AM

i knew it. You're from Kazakhstan!

Tangus

Chicago, IL

November 2005

NOV 26, 2005 11:37 AM

singing a traditional Kazikhstani song inside of a hick bar!

Maude

I'm lost

July 2005

NOV 26, 2005 11:38 AM

i heart Borat.

and there's gonna be a movie?? maybe i already knew that, but it's still AWESOME.

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH

April 2004

NOV 26, 2005 11:46 AM

jake_lex said:

"Since 2003 ... Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world," he said on his website, www.borat.kz.

Wow, that quote looks weird. "True, before 2002, we really sucked. But we've got running water and everything now."

Probably has something to do with the election of a new PM in 2003.

uncomfortable

Toronto, ON

August 2005

NOV 26, 2005 01:33 PM

sexy time! yeaaahhh!

FireBomber

Leesburg, FL

March 2005

NOV 26, 2005 02:05 PM

If you cheat on me, I crush you.

jason

USA

August 2002

NOV 26, 2005 04:32 PM

its the I KISS YOU!!! internet guy.

ASSH0LE

Las Vegas, NV

June 2003

NOV 27, 2005 03:00 PM

Starhaad said:
Hahahahahaha. The movie is gonna be awesome.

The movie has been out for a couple of years. It's rather cheap in the U.S. and A.

Ali G is the star, we learn what his real name is, we get to visit Staines (and meet his Nanna and "me Julie."

Oh yeah, he gets elected to Parliament.

Ali G Indahouse

ASSH0LE

Las Vegas, NV

June 2003

NOV 27, 2005 03:04 PM

TedKoppel said:
I tend to side with the "have a sense of humor" argument as well, but then again, if I were Kazakh and living in the US or UK, I'd probably be pretty fucking sick of people quoting Borat to me.

And that's one of the main reason why Kazakhstan was chosen. There aren't really all that many Kazakhstanis around. And most Brits and Americans don't really know a thing about the country. It's a dim, far off place, where we assume things might just be as strange as Cohen presents them.

Where the character really gets brilliant is his extreme innocence. When he says how he hates the Jews, Gypsies (who many Americans only know as mythological creatures), and "chocolate people" he has a very crafty way of making those people feel comfortable exposing their own bigotries.

PointBlank

New York, NY

November 2004

NOV 27, 2005 03:29 PM

Timer said:

Starhaad said:
Hahahahahaha. The movie is gonna be awesome.

I think he means the Borat movie.

DrNecessitor

San Jose, CA

January 2003

NOV 28, 2005 12:04 AM

It is quite possible that Mr. Cohen is the funniest person on the planet.

UpTight

I'm lost

December 2003

NOV 29, 2005 04:06 AM

fantastic response by Borat