( CNN ) -- Jennifer Lopez sang `` Happy Birthday , Mr. President '' on Saturday to a leader who has been characterized as one of the most repressive in the world . `` We wish you the very , very , happiest birthday , '' Lopez said to Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov , and then she sang to him at a huge celebration at a resort in the central Asian country . The singer 's spokesman told CNN Sunday that `` had there been knowledge of human right issues of any kind , JenniferÂ would not have attended . '' Human Rights Watch , in a report to the U.N. Human Rights Committee , recently called Turkmenistan `` a country marked by extraordinary levels of repression . '' `` Widely recognized as one of the most repressive in the world , the Turkmen government exercises total control of public life , '' the report said . In concert with controversy . Lopez spokesman Mark Young said she `` and several other artists were invited and performed at a private corporate event for the China National Petroleum Corporation that was presented to their local executives in Turkmenistan . '' The event was not sponsored by the government and not political , he said . `` The China National Petroleum Corporation made a last-minute 'birthday greeting ' request prior to Jennifer taking the stage , '' he said . `` This was not stipulated in her contract , but she graciously obliged the China National Petroleum Corporation request . '' Once part of the Soviet Union until late 1991 , Turkmenistan has abundant gas and oil resources . The CIA Factbook says the leadership uses its `` gas and cotton export revenues to sustain its inefficient and highly corrupt economy . '' The country borders Afghanistan and Iran . Berdymukhamedov has been chief of state and head of government since February 2007 , the CIA Factbook says . Tearful Lopez receives Walk of Fame star . CNN 's Denise Quan contributed to this report .
Lopez performed at Turkmenistan president 's birthday celebration . Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov says Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has `` extraordinary levels of repression '' Spokesman : Jennifer Lopez did n't realize the human rights issues around Human Rights Watch .