DUSHANBE, May 6, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The music and cultural festival for talented children with physical and intellectual disabilities, entitled “Without Border,” is starting at the Kokhi Jomi State Complex in Dushanbe today.

Popular singer Diana Gurtskaya is the guest of honor of the festival.  Today morning, she visited the National Rehabilitation Center for Children with Physical Disabilities, Chorbogh, in Varzob district.  Diana Gurtskaya donated a TV set and various developmental games to the Center pupils.        

Anzhelika Rahmanova , an expert-consultant with the representative office of the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation (IFHC) in Tajikistan, says Diana Gurtskaya will sing together with young singers.  During her stay in Dushanbe, Diana Gurtskaya is also expected to meet with Tajik Deputy Prime Minister, Ruqiya Qurbonova.

The visit of the popular singer and holding of the festival among the talented children with physical and intellectual disabilities were organized under support of CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation.

Diana Gurtskaya is a blind Georgian singer residing in Moscow, Russia.  On March 1, 2008, she won the Georgian national final with 39.4% of the vote, therefore she represented Georgia at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia.  She won a place in the final at the second semi-final on May 22 and finished 11th.

Gurtskaya has a number of awards to her credit.  Most notably, a 2007 Russian Honorable Artist award given to her by president Vladimir Putin, a Medal of Honor given to her by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili , and the Award of Saint Barbara in Ukraine amongst others.

She has recorded duets with various well-known foreign singers including Ray Charles, Toto Cutugno, and Demis Roussos.