Sacha Baron Cohen's character, Borat. Photo: wiki commons.

After formerly banning the film for its less than stellar depiction of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat” is being lauded by the former Soviet Republic as having increased tourism and interest in the nation, since it’s release in2006.

“I am grateful to ‘Borat’ for helping attract tourists to Kazakhstan,” the country’s former minister said.

Cohen’s 2006 film satirized life in rural Kazakhstan and portrayed the main character’s (of Kazakh descent)  assimilation into American life as strange and difficult.  This led to the government of Kazakhstan banning the film inside the country, as well as blocking access to Cohen’s official website.

“With the release of this film, the number of visas issued by Kazakhstan grew tenfold,” Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov told the country’s parliament recently.

Cohen’s latest film, “The Dictator”, which depicts a dictator’s travel to the United States, in order to ensure democracy never reaches his homeland, is set for release on May 16th.

To watch the movie’s official trailer, click below.