Uzbek President's Daughter Renounces Leadership Ambitions

The eldest daughter of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov has declared that she has no political ambitions and just wants be an artist, after the authorities of the Central Asian state took steps to curb her media empire.

Gulnara Karimova, 41, a fashion designer and pop singer who is believed to have wielded significant power until recently, said that in the East the presidency is a destiny of "strong men" elected by the people.

"A painter, poet and photographer," she answered when asked "Who/What do you see yourself in the future" by one of her Twitter followers.

"Recently the world's best art publishing (house) has published my super Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan," she continued.

In her another tweet Gulnara, apparently annoyed by persistent questions about her political ambitions, said that "It is a destiny of strong men elected by the people."

Gulnara's Twitter account, with more than 41,000 followers has become the only forum these days where she confirms or rejects rumors about her future plans.

Last week Gulnara confirmed on Twitter that the government, citing alleged violations, had closed down three television channels and three radio stations believed to belong to her.

The entertainment channels went off the air simultaneously on October 21.

She also said her Terra financial group faced tax evasion charges that she argued were "made up out of thin air."

Gulnara runs jewelry and cosmetics businesses and several charity foundations. Until recently she was Uzbekistan's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva and its ambassador to Spain.

Although she was often seen as a potential successor to her strongman father, who has ruled the Central Asian country for its entire post-Soviet history, Gulnara has never talked about it openly.