Media reported that the famous French actor Gerard Depardieu agreed to play a role in the film scripted by Gulnara Karimova, eldest daughter of Uzbek president Islam Karimov.

It may seem there is nothing extraordinary here; artists, actors, as professional players in the world of show business, have a right to try their talents, and make for living.

However, we must remind Mr.Depardieu that political system in Uzbekistan is one of the most violent regimes in the world.

Not only international and local human rights organizations, but also official institutions of democratic countries and competent experts of numerous international organizations have long been ringing alarm about the atrocities the Uzbek government has been doing for many years.

Given this, shouldn’t cooperation with the tyrant’s daughter contradict the moral ethics and life principles of the bright representative of democratic society?

It is possible that Mr. Depardieu does not have enough information about the real state of political and social situation in Uzbekistan. However, given the project is directly related to a family member of the president of Uzbekistan, it is unlikely he did not consult with knowledgeable people and experts.

Unfortunately, in recent years we witnessed increasing number of such cases. And this is not the first case when famous people form French engage in events organized by family members of Uzbekistan’s president. In 2010, the world famous star Monica Bellucci took part in the project of Islam Karimov’s youngest daughter organized in the Cote d’Azur.

This event caused a wide public resonance in the social circles of France and in international organizations for human rights in Uzbekistan. That evening was attended also by other distinguished people, such as Alain Delon, Mrs. Bernadette Chirac and then French president Sarkozy’s brother.

When it comes to people, directly or indirectly associated with politics, it is not surprising. However, to see well-known cultural personalities in a small circle next to people, to put it mildly, with dubious reputation, is deeply regrettable.

If Mr. Depardieu really isn’t aware of it, first, money promised for his role in the future film (of course, it must be much higher than usual payments for his roles in the usual pictures of ordinary writers and producers!) is likely part of a capital gained with sufferings and hardships of ordinary Uzbek people, or even worse, a money laundered in various frauds with international scale (there have been many debates about Karimova’s role in international fraud recently).

Second, Gulnara Karimova usually pays big amount of money to famous people like Mr. Depardieu. Giving such “bribes”, Gulnara Karimova and co lure these well known people to their show-like projects, and use them in their own favor to gain political capital on an international level.

Given the repressive nature of Islam Karimov’s regime, disputed reputation of his family, and the role of Gulnara Karimova, who holds official position in this dictatorship, we call upon the actor Gerard Depardieu to refuse to cooperate with Gulnara Karimova and her projects!

Mutabar Tadjibayeva,

Head of the International Human Rights Organization “Fiery Hearts Club”