President of Uzbekistan
Karimov remained largely unemployed after Uzbekistan became independent following the break-up of the Soviet Union. He lived in Tashkent with little income during the last few years of his life, according to Uzbek film director and producer Ali Hamroyev. Karimov died on August 4, 2009, at his home in Tashkent at the age of 73. He was no relation to Islam Karimov, the current President of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's state controlled media, which is heavily censored, did not report on Karimov's death.