AKIPRESS.COM - An advertising agency in Kazakhstan has lost its appeal against a fine over a poster of two poets' kissing.
The controversial advert for a gay club in Almaty, which went up last month, features Kazakh composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly and Russian poet Anexander Pushkin locking lips.
News of the poster quickly spread on social media, with more than 20 activists filing a lawsuit claiming the advert “insults both Kazakhs and Russians”.
In September, a court found advertising agency Havas Worldwide Kazakhstan guilty of advertising ‘banned goods and services’, and they were hit with a $1700 fine.
According to Ak Zhayik, the court has since heard the appeal of the ad company, but decided to leave the previous court decision unchanged.