Gay kiss poster lands Havas Worldwide Kazakhstan with crushing £116,000 fine and frozen assets
A court has fined ad agency Havas Worldwide Kazahkstan 34 million tenge (£116,000) for designing a poster portraying two classical figures engaging in a gay kiss in a scene reminscent of the embrace between the heads of East Germany and the Soviet Union in 1979 (pictured).
Alexander Pushkin and Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly kissing
The complaint regarding the graphic of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly was allegedly raised by members of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, according to Kapital, a Kazahkstani media outlet.
The claim went to an Almaty court on the grounds the image "hurt the feelings" of those at the music conservatory.
Darius Hamitzhanova, chief executive of Havas Worldwide Kazakhstan, called the fine “nonsense”. As a result, the agency’s assets were frozen until the fine was paid.
Hamitzhanova rubbished the ruling, telling Kapital: “None of the 34 plaintiffs appeared in court, but their demands were met. It was just me, and the lawyer representing the plaintiffs.
“During all the meetings there were procedural irregularities. This is nonsense. This 34 million will ruin our company.”
The poster promoted an Almaty gay club located at the Kurmangazy and Pushkin intersection, named after the two artists. It has been removed from public as a result of the court ruling.
The ad agency has announced it will appeal the decision.
The nation rolled out anti-gay propaganda laws, similar to those in Russia, earlier this year. To combat the Russian law, BrewDog launched a '#notforgays Hello My Name is Vladimir' beer.
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