The Boys Don’t Cry wasn’t the only celeb at Kadyrov’s extravagant, 35th birthday bash in Grozny, the provincial capital of Chechyna; action movie legend Jean Claude Van Damme, violinist Vanessa Mae and a slew of Russian stars were also on hand. Van Damme and Mae have yet to address the scandal.
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Swank sure is sorry.
A former separatist rebel, Kadyrov has bragged that he killed a Russian soldier at age 15; his many rivals and critics have been violently murdered and harassed throughout Europe over the past several years, though he has denied involvement.
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“I deeply regret attending this event,” Swank, 37, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday. “If I had a full understanding of what this event was apparently intended to be, I would never have gone.”
Despite Swank’s claims, the Human Rights Foundation told TheWrap.com that it sent a letter to the actress in September — warning her of Kadyrov’s alleged crimes. Swank’s rep allegedly replied back, explaining she didn’t plan to attend the bash.
In her statement, Swank said she had no idea the over-the-top party was to be held in Kadyrov’s honor.
During the elaborate party, Swank said she was inspired by the Chechen government’s “passion to make peace and to make something beautiful.”
Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank came under fire on Tuesday when it was revealed that she was among the attendees at a birthday concert on Oct. 5 for Ramzan Kadyrov, a Kremlin-backed Chechen leader accused of torture, abductions and murder by human rights groups.