A British mine worker has reportedly been expelled from Kyrgyzstan after comparing a local delicacy to a horse's penis on Facebook.
Scotsman Michael McFeat was held after posting a picture of Kyrgyz co-workers queuing for a ''chuchuk'' horsemeat sausage, with a caption that angered his colleagues.
He will now be deported after it emerged he does not possess the necessary paperwork to remain in Kyrgyzstan, AFP news agency reported.
The decision was taken by a court in the eastern town of Karakol on the basis of his staying in the country illegally, it said.
It is understood that Mr McFeat's Facebook post upset his co-workers to such an extent that they called a brief strike at the Kumtor goldmine where they are employed.
He deleted the post and wrote an apology, saying: ''I truly never meant to offened (sic) anyone and im truly sorry as it was never my intension (sic)."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ''We are in contact with the local authorities after a British national was detained in Kyrgyzstan and are ready to provide consular assistance.''
It was suggested that Mr McFeat could have faced up to five years in prison if convicted under race hate laws.
The Kumtor open pit mine, operated by Canadian firm Centerra Gold, is the largest gold mine in Central Asia and its output accounts for more than one-third of the country's export of goods and services, according to its website.
Mr McFeat was working as a contractor at the Kumtor mine.
A statement from Toronto-based Centerra said: "The company is investigating the incident.
"Centerra and Kumtor does not tolerate behaviour by any employee or contractor that is insensitive to any cultural or national group."