LOS ANGELES: US actress Hilary Swank has apologized for taking part in the 35th birthday party for Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of human rights abuses in the Caucasus republic.
"I deeply regret attending this event, which has thrown into question my long and deeply-held commitment to the protection of human rights," the Oscar-winning actress said in a statement.
"I would never intentionally do anything that raised doubts about such commitment," said the star of "Boys Don't Cry" and "Million Dollar Baby."
"I will continue to donate my time and my financial resources not only to the charities with which I am currently affiliated, but also those dedicated to the preservation of human rights."
Kadyrov turned 35 last week and held grandiose celebrations televised live that were officially decreed to mark the opening of a new skyscraper complex, Grozny-City.
But actors such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kevin Costner and Swank all participated, while violinist Vanessa Mae also performed at the glitzy gala.
The swaggering leader, who critics accuse of megalomania and heavy-handed tactics, had banned bureaucrats from celebrating his birthday on pain of being fired, so the events in the former war zone of Chechnya were tied to the city day as well as a national teachers' holiday and a "day of Chechen youth."
A former insurgent, Kadyrov took power in Chechnya after his father, Akhmat Kadyrov, was killed in a bomb attack as he attended a Victory Day concert in the volatile region in 2004.
Swank's publicist Carrie Gordon said the actress decided to "attend the opening because the construction project was described to her as a symbol of hope for the people of Chechnya, a region that had been devastated by war."
"When she arrived at the event, its organizers requested that she wish the president a happy birthday, which happened to coincide with the opening. Not wanting to be rude, she obliged," Gordon added in a statement.
But a spokeswoman for the Human Rights Foundation said the group had offered to brief Swank before she headed to Chechnya.
"Her manager cut us short and responded that Hilary had no plans to attend. Her claim of ignorance is laughable," said Sarah Wasserman.
"The more important question now is what is Swank going to do with the blood money paid from Kadyrov's coffers?"
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