Daughter of Uzbekistan's brutal dictator tweets images of herself during intense yoga session (but they haven't gone down too well in her home country)

By Anthony Bond

PUBLISHED: 21:30 EST, 22 November 2012 | UPDATED: 04:07 EST, 23 November 2012


She was once described as the single most hated person in her country.

And just like her father - one of Central Asia's most brutal dictators - she has her own reputation for ruthlessness.

But, in what appears to be an attempt to change her public image, glamorous Gulnara Karimova has caused controversy in her homeland by releasing these pictures taken of her during a yoga session.

Work-out: Glamorous Gulnara Karimova - whose father is president of Uzbekistan - has caused controversy in her homeland by posting these pictures of her during a yoga session on Twitter

Work-out: Glamorous Gulnara Karimova - whose father is president of Uzbekistan - has caused controversy in her homeland by posting these pictures of her during a yoga session on Twitter

Flexible: The pictures have not gone down too in her home country, where her father's hardline secular government is battling with conservative elements of Islam

Flexible: The pictures have not gone down too in her home country, where her father's hardline secular government is battling with conservative elements of Islam

Controversial: Many believe the pictures have been released by the 40-year-old in an attempt to change her public image

Controversial: Many believe the pictures have been released by the 40-year-old in an attempt to change her public image

The pictures were posted by the 40-year-old - whose father is president of Uzbekistan - on the internet.

But they have not gone down too well in the country, where her father's hardline secular government is battling with conservative elements of Islam.

 

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The Uzbek service of Radio Free Europe, according to The Telegraph, explained why people were upset: 'They were offended by her skimpy workout clothes and the prurient nature of some of the yoga poses, which they said overstepped the boundaries of propriety'. 

Despite the criticism, however, there was also plenty of praise for Miss Karimova, with many bloggers praising her figure.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov
Praise: Despite the criticism, there has also been plenty of praise for Miss Karimova, with many bloggers praising her figure

Praise: Despite the criticism, there has also been plenty of praise for Miss Karimova, with many bloggers praising her figure. Her father Islam Karimov is pictured left

Some believe she is attempting to soften her public image in case she eventually takes over from her 74-year-old father, Islam Karimov, who has been president of Uzbekistan for 22 years.

Miss Karimova's website describes her as a poet, designer, mezzo soprano and 'exotic Uzbekistan beauty'.

In her country, she has a high profile as a singer called GooGoosha. Despite being a fashion designer, she was kicked out of New York Fashion Week last year following a complaint by human rights groups.

The U.S. cables released by WikiLeaks in 2010 described her as 'the single most hated person in the country.'

Strict: The pictures have not gone down too well in her homeland where her father's hardline secular government is battling with conservative elements of Islam

Strict: The pictures have not gone down too well in her homeland where her father's hardline secular government is battling with conservative elements of Islam

Busy: Miss Karimova's website describes her as a poet, designer, mezzo soprano and 'exotic Uzbekistan beauty'

Busy: Miss Karimova's website describes her as a poet, designer, mezzo soprano and 'exotic Uzbekistan beauty'

Dictator: Her 74-year-old father, Islam Karimov, has been president of Uzbekistan for 22 years

Dictator: Her 74-year-old father, Islam Karimov, has been president of Uzbekistan for 22 years



 
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I like the first photo, the one where she is balancing a ball on her head. - Richarbl , Albury - You know what's hilarious? At the time I read this the comment above had 32 green arrows. Balancing a ball on her head you say? The majority agrees with your assessment? So, the majority are too dim-witted to see that the ball is the reflection in the mirror? She is facing a mirror, you all realize that right? Wow people.

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She's 40? I thought she was 19!!

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The better not criticize her, her father will cook her critic in boiling oil.

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Stolen billions, lives in Geneva

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I like the first photo, the one where she is balancing a ball on her head.

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Blimey, some of you sound like 40 is 'ancient'. It's only one year out of her 30's, so why shouldn't she look great, and she does, well I think so anyway!! ...40 is not OLD!!... So why say she's in good shape ESPECIALLY for a 40 year old!!

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Her nose job went wrong, looks like Michael Jackson's...

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people seem to be ignoring the fact that she's a dictator to be because she's attactive.

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I wish I had the fitness and flexibility to pull some of those moves. But noo still working on being able to walk 10 minutes w/o panting is goal enough right now

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Glamorous?! Are you sure, DM?! Lol

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