Her achievements are no doubt singular and impressive. But still, did she really have to lend her artistic credibility -- and her "signature, voluptuous design

Her achievements are no doubt singular and impressive. But still, did she really have to lend her artistic credibility -- and her "signature, voluptuous design aesthetic" -- to a 619,000 square-foot convention center and performance hall named after this guy? Whose family continues to run Azerbaijan as their personal fiefdom; and whose son (and successor) has been compared, in leaked U.S. diplomatic cables, to a mafia crime boss? As head of the KGB's branch in Azerbaijan, Aliyev ran an anti-corruption campaign as a cover for purging his opponents.[15][16][17] Following the purge, he became the undisputed leader of Azerbaijan. During this time, Aliyev acquired wealth and prestige by developing prominent ties with the Azeri mafia. With its help, he amassed profits from the sale of various commodities, including Caspian Sea caviar, Sumgait oil, fruit, vegetables, and cotton—and from his involvement in Azerbaijan's border control (customs) and transportation industries.[15][16] In order to remain the unchallenged leader of Azerbaijan, Aliyev bribed Brezhnev with lavish gifts—such as the so-called "Sun King" diamond ring, worth an estimated 226,000 rubles, described above.[15][16][17] After two Moscow prosecutors investigated the Azeri mafia, one was tried and expelled from the Communist party, and the other was convicted and executed.[15] Aliyev became a candidate (non-voting) member of the Soviet Politburo in 1976. He occupied this position until December 1982, when Yuri Andropov promoted him to the office of First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers.[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heydar_Aliyev_Center https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heydar_Aliyev_Center