Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov during a signing ceremony following their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 26, (Getty)
The president of Uzbekistan has died after ruling his country with an iron first for more than two decades, confirmed BBC.
BBC says Islam Karimov was one of the world’s “most authoritarian” leaders. The Wall Street Journal said he ruled Uzbekistan for 25 years both before and after the country achieved independence from Communism.
So how did he die?
The official cause of death was a stroke, said The New York Times.
The Washington Post says his death was announced Friday, September 2 and called him a “Communist Party apparatchik” who turned Uzbekistan “into a brutal personal fiefdom.”
The New York Times says he was 78 and ruled his country “ruthlessly.”
His daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, had posted on Instagram a few days before that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage.
On Instagram, she wrote, “I would like to write here about the sad events that befell our family last weekend. My father was hospitalized after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage on Saturday morning, and is now receiving treatment in an intensive care unti. His conditionis considered stable. At the moment it is too early to make any predictions about his future health. My only request to everyone is to refrain from any speculation, and show respect to our family’s right to privacy. I will be grateful to everyone who will support my father with prayers.”
His daughter has also posted family photos on Instagram:
View this post on Instagram
(Фото из личного архива, Март 2014 г.) Во избежание кривотолков здесь на своей странице я хочу рассказать вам о печальных событиях, которые произошли в нашей семье с моим отцом в минувшие выходные. По причине мозгового кровоизлияния, которое случилось в субботу утром он госпитализирован и находится в реанимационном отделении. Состояние его оценивается как стабильное. На данный момент ещё рано делать какие либо прогнозы относительно его будущего состояния. Я обращаюсь к людям с большой просьбой обойтись без спекуляций и уважать право семьи на "прайвеси" (личное пространство). Я буду очень признательна всем, тем кто изъявит желание и поддержит моего отца своими молитвами. ⬇️(Шаҳсий архивдан сурат, март 2014 й.) Турли хил гап-сўзларнинг олдини олиш мақсадида, бизнинг оилада ўтган хафтанинг охирида содир бўлган қайғули воқеа ҳақида ушбу саҳифам орқали сизга маълумот бермоқчиман. Шанба куни адамлар мияга қон қуйилиш ташхиси билан шифохонага олиб келиндилар. Ҳозир улар реанимация бўлимида тиббий муолажалар олмоқдалар. Ҳозирги пайтда ҳолатлари шифокорлар томонидан стабил деб баҳоланмоқда. Айни пайтда келгусидаги соғлиқлари борасида қандайдир тахминлар қилиш анча эрта. Мен сизлардан турли хил гап-сўзлардан йироқ бўлиб, оиламизнинг шаҳсий ҳаётига хурмат билан муносабатда бўлишингизни илтимос қиламан. Ушбу дамларда отамни ўз дуолари билан қўллаб-қувватловчи барча инсонларга ўзимнинг чексиз миннатдорчилигимни изҳор этаман. (Photo from family archive, March 2014) I would like to write here about the sad events that befell our family last weekend. My father was hospitalised after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage on Saturday morning, and is now receiving treatment in an intensive care unit. His condition is considered stable. At the moment it is too early to make any predictions about his future health. My only request to everyone is to refrain from any speculations, and show respect to our family's right to privacy. I will be grateful to everyone who will support my father with prayers.
A post shared by Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva (@lola_tillyaeva) on Aug 29, 2016 at 2:03am PDT
The Wall Street Journal also said Karimov was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage.
Jessica McBride is a news reporter covering breaking news, politics and crime for Heavy. She is a former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Waukesha Freeman newspapers in Wisconsin and is a senior journalism instructor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. More about Jessica McBride
