An advertising agency in Kazakhstan has lost its appeal against a fine over a poster of two 19th Century cultural figures 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 Zhaik, the court has since heard the appeal of the ad company, but decided to leave the previous court decision unchanged.

The judge announced: “The court of the first instance gave the correct assessment based on available proofs.”

One of the artists involved in creating the advert, was quoted to have said: “One can be proud of this work. First of all because it works: people understand and remember the address.

“Secondly, it is a brave work, and in the case of the gay movement, traditionally living on the edge, it is more than accurate and justified.”

Despite homosexuality being decriminalised in 1998, anti-gay attitudes are still common in Kazakhstan.