An attempt by Kazakh influencer Boty Mia to reconcile with Kyrgyzstan has backfired, sparking outrage in her home country, reports infohub.kz.
The influencer, whose real name is Akbota Nurakhyn, had previously faced a wave of backlash in Kyrgyzstan after making a skeptical remark about the country, infuriating many Kyrgyzstanis.
To defuse the conflict and show respect, Nurakhyn decided on a noble gesture. She traveled to the Kyrgyz village of Sosnovka to meet 12-year-old Alikhan Askarbekov, a young rider who had displayed true sportsmanship during the Issyk-Kul Cup 2026. During a long-distance horse race known as alaman-baiga, a Kazakh rider fell off his horse. Alikhan immediately jumped onto the riderless horse and guided it to a third-place finish. The horse's owner from Kazakhstan later awarded him a prize of 1.3 million tenge.
Nurakhyn arrived to give Alikhan a horse as a token of gratitude for his act and in the spirit of friendship between the two nations. But the video of the gift giving took an unexpected turn. It showed the rider with a Kyrgyz flag draped over his shoulders, while the horse was covered with a blanket bearing the national flag of Kazakhstan.
A wave of anger quickly erupted among Kazakh users, who viewed the use of the national flag as a saddle blanket as outright desecration.
On social media, the video drew hundreds of angry comments. Kazakhs accused the influencer of disrespecting their flag. However, some came to her defense, pointing out that the blanket was a ready-made item purchased at the filming location, and that Nurakhyn should not be accused of malicious intent.
“The use of the state flag image on products, goods, packaging, advertising, souvenirs, and other items for commercial purposes is not allowed.”
“This should be directed at those who make and sell such covers, not at Boty. She bought it ready-made. If you notice in the video, the sales point is full of items with flag colors.”
“You’re absolutely right, it makes my blood boil that the flag was used as a lining.”
“Definitely a boycott!”
Earlier this year, the Kazakh government updated regulations on the use of state symbols. Under the new decree, it is explicitly forbidden to use the national flag as clothing, bedding, tablecloths, rugs, or other covers. The law also strictly prohibits any actions that degrade the dignity of the state symbol or use it for purposes other than intended.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that Kazakh menswear brand Shoqansuits found itself at the center of a major reputation scandal and faced a wave of boycotts on social media. The cause of the discontent was an advertisement featuring the character Borat, who provokes a strongly negative reaction from Kazakh audiences due to the humiliating stereotypes it perpetuates about the country.