Gulnara Karimova, the controversial daughter of Uzbekistan's strongman President Islam Karimova, was reported to be in Manhattan June 10 for an art exhibit, according to the Russian-language online Uzbek news service uzmetronom.com. Her presence has not yet been confirmed.
Gulnara, 37, who is her country's ambassador to Spain, was scheduled to be in New York at the Ana Tzarev Gallery for a presentation of "the national heritage and contemporary art trends of Uzbekistan."
An exhibit of the works of Alisher Mirzo, designated by the government with the title "People's Artist of Uzbekistan," is also said to be scheduled. The event is to showcase Uzbek music, dance, traditions and national dishes.
Sponsors of the event include Karimova's Forum Foundation, the Ijod Association of Artists, Art Critics and People's Artists, the Uzbek Initiative, and Silk Road Treasure Tours and is supported by the Mission of Uzbekistan to the United Nations and the Uzbek Consulate General in New York.
Karimova has been active in a number of public charity events that inevitably spark controversy as human rights activists seize the occasions to try to get questions asked of the president's daughter about the deteriorating human rights situation in Uzbekistan. In connection with her appearance at a star-studded charity dinner for the Foundation for Aids Research (amfAR) at the Cannes Film Festival last month, Karimova was challenged to intervene on the case of imprisoned HIV/AIDS activist Maxim Popov in Uzbekistan.
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