By Andy Goldberg Oct 13, 2011, 19:19 GMT
Los Angeles - Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank apologized Thursday for attending a birthday party for Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, saying that she had not been aware of his reported violations of human rights.
But her apology was dismissed by the group Human Rights Foundation which said that it had warned Swank, 37, prior to her attending the October 5 event in the Chechen capital of Grozny that Kadyrov had been implicated in abductions, torture and executions.
'I deeply regret attending this event, which has thrown into question my long and deeply-held commitment to the protection of human rights,' Swank said in a statement.
'I would never intentionally do anything that raised doubts about such commitment. 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.'
Swank claimed to be unaware of Kadyrov's record on human rights, but the Human Rights Foundation claimed that it had sent a letter to Swank outlining the allegations against the Chechen leader. The group said that Colombian singer Shakira had cancelled her planned appearance after receiving a similar letter and that Swank's manager had said she too would not attend.
'Hilary Swank obviously has the right to earn a living entertaining the highest bidder, but this sort of venality should be exposed - especially after claiming she was not going,' said HRF president Thor Halvorssen. 'Would she have accepted an invitation to entertain Pinochet? Al-Qaeda?'
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