Ukrainian politician Olga Lyulchak has compared leaked nude photos of herself to the work of famous artists following criticism by the media in her home country, news.com.au reported.

Lyulchak says that the private, nude and semi-nude photographs were stolen by hackers from her iCloud account. But she has shrugged off controversy, insisting instead that the snaps should be considered art. “The world honors the great works of great masters such as Van Gogh, Titian and others. They created naked beauty which was admired. In our day and age women who appear naked are considered vulgar or shameful. I can’t understand it, I think they are pure art,” she said.

Her response differs significantly from other victims of the controversial nude photo leaks. Hollywood actresses, pop singers, and reality television stars have threatened legal action over the invasive leaks which have attracted significant media attention and sparked a debate over privacy.

Lyulchak lost her seat on the Ukrainian capital Kiev’s city council in the May. She is a member of the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform party. Now, the politician is standing with former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko as a candidate in the Ukraine’s upcoming parliamentary elections on October 26.