By Alibek Beyjanov

Copyright qalampir

Maryam Tillyaeva, blogger and granddaughter of the First President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, stated that she has not spoken to her mother, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, for the past five years. She revealed this yesterday, September 15, while answering questions from her followers on Instagram.

Maryam Tillyaeva noted that her mother is the only person among her close relatives with whom she has completely cut off communication.

’’I consider her behavior very strange: she always tries to present herself well to others, sometimes portraying herself as a victimized woman. However, even though she came to Uzbekistan, she did not set foot in her mother’s house and acted in a very odd manner,’’ the blogger wrote.

She said that such situations once caused her pain, but now she has grown accustomed to them and simply accepts the fact that her mother is like that. She added that she feels pity for her younger brother and sister.

’’Even though we have not spoken for five years, my inner sense is very strong, and somehow, without any communication, I still know what is happening in her life.

Over time, the problems in our relationship kept growing. I don’t know when we might reconcile, because I feel like I am recognizing her less and less. From what I hear, she seems like someone who is running away from herself and going to great lengths to attract public attention,’’ she said.

Maryam Tillyaeva stated that her family’s history is complex and that she cannot reveal certain events out of respect for her grandmother, Tatyana Karimova, and other relatives.

She also added that she sometimes feels her mother, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, tries to engage in unhealthy competition with her.

’’Of course, these words may not sound logical: how could I possibly be her competitor? She gave birth to me, and I am 50 percent my mother, 50 percent my father,’’ the blogger mentioned.

One of the blogger’s followers wrote that they do not envy Maryam’s family and that no one should be expected to deserve such a family. Maryam Tillyaeva agreed, adding that her friends also do not envy her.

’’In any case, high rank and money are not worth nerves, tears, and family quarrels.

I have decided for myself: from now on, I will live my life with pleasure and do the work I want. Frankly, I don’t care what anyone says. I am not responsible for the actions of my relatives, and I am certainly not Mother Teresa; it is not my duty to save or reconcile everyone. I will simply live my life and build my own family,’’ Maryam Tillyaeva wrote.

It is worth noting that earlier, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva stated that ’’if Uzbekistan did not turn into another Syria, it was thanks to the wise policies of Islam Karimov’’ on the 9th anniversary of the First President’s death. In response, Sherzodkhon Kudratkhodja, Rector of the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan, addressed Lola as ’’our sister’’ but reminded her of her father’s mistakes, advising her ’’not to scratch where it does not itch.’’ Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva replied by saying she was no sister to those who do not respect her father.

Karimov’s family and conflicts

After the death of Uzbekistan’s First President, Islam Karimov, in 2016, it became known that his eldest daughter, Gulnara Karimova, had already been placed under house arrest in 2013 on criminal charges. Not long after her father’s death, in 2018, she was transferred to a general-regime penal colony for violating court-imposed restrictions while under house arrest. She remains in Penal Colony No. 42 in the Zangiota district to this day.

Following Gulnara Karimova’s arrest, her son, Islam Karimov Jr., and daughter, Iman Karimova, moved to London. Islam Jr. later started a family and had a son, but has not returned to Uzbekistan. Iman, however, has been a frequent visitor.

After 2016, Lola Karimova moved to the United States with her husband and children. From there, she has continued to manage the public foundation named after Islam Karimov. She is also the founder of the perfume brand “The Harmonist.”

At Islam Karimov’s funeral, only his widow, Tatyana Akbarovna Karimova, and his youngest daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, appeared on behalf of the family. Other family members did not attend the burial ceremonies. The only exception came on August 31, 2017, when Gulnara Karimova’s daughter, Iman Karimova, joined her aunt, Lola, at a memorial ceremony held at the Oqsaroy complex.

Family disputes within the Karimov household are not a newly revealed matter. In 2016, Gulnara Karimova’s son, Islam Karimov Jr., in an interview with the BBC from London, stated that his mother had long ceased speaking to her sister, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva. According to him, their relationship had broken off even before Gulnara was imprisoned and before the death of President Karimov.

’’My mother and her sister had normal relations in their youth. The only problem is that I blame my grandfather more for this. My mother graduated from a mathematics school with a gold medal. She followed in my grandfather’s footsteps. She practiced sports, earned a black belt, and began building her career. Whatever she did, my aunt wanted to repeat it. But why? I think the reason is that my grandfather spent his whole life telling my aunt, Why can’t you be like your sister? Why can’t you do this? Why don’t you study well? Why can’t you be her?

I believe such treatment of one’s daughters is wrong. That is why I think it is his fault. But the fact remains, it had an impact on her. Because my aunt heard this all her life, she developed an inferiority complex. Now, for example, a foundation has been created. But everyone in the country knows that we already had a foundation. We had a magazine, and now she is publishing a magazine too. There is no need to prove it, it has always been a competition. My aunt has constantly tried to prove that she is also capable of something. In my view, this is how resentment developed, because my aunt could never rise to my mother’s level. What began as an emotional issue eventually grew into a real problem. Now it is reflected in our lives. Families are being destroyed because of this hostility,’’ Islam Karimov Jr. once said.

The hostility between Gulnara and Lola also extended to their children. The sisters’ daughters had no contact with each other, and this feud lasted until 2022. It was only after an accidental encounter in Uzbekistan that Gulnara’s daughter, Iman, and Lola’s daughter, Iman, reconnected following an eight-year break. Before that, there had even been talks of strained relations between Iman Karimova and her grandmother, Tatyana Karimova.

In October 2018, when asked on social media, ’’Do you keep in touch with your aunt?’’, Iman Karimova revealed their estrangement by responding with a dismissive hand gesture.

Lola Karimova’s daughter, Maryam Tillayeva, began attracting public attention in the middle of last year. In April 2021, she married Russian blogger Amiran Sardarov. She later lived in Moscow and launched a blogging career. At that time, Maryam faced criticism for her non-traditional behavior, lack of knowledge of the Uzbek language, and semi-nude photos. Not long after, a nude photo of her spread on social media. Public figures condemned this as a sign of disrespect toward the memory of her grandfather, Islam Karimov. In response, Lola Karimova asked that her daughter’s actions not be associated with Islam Karimov’s presidential work and ideas. Maryam herself claimed that it was her husband who had leaked the photos, and in February 2022, she publicly announced her divorce from Sardarov. Around the same time, her former husband also stated that Maryam’s parents had cut off communication with her.

Tatyana Karimova remains distant from these controversies. She usually appears only at memorial events dedicated to Islam Karimov, and more recently, she has occasionally been seen in the Instagram content of Imon Karimova and Maryam Tillayeva.