Nephews of Tajikistan's president 'severely beat health minister after their ...

Three nephews of Tajikistan's president have severely beaten the country's health minister after their mother reportedly died from Covid-19.

Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda was among several officials attacked on July 20, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on Monday, citing 'sources close to the government'.

The sources, who spoke to the outlet on the condition of anonymity, said Kholmuhammad Rahimzoda, the chief of the presidential medical centre, and a number of health officials and physicians were also attacked.  

The sources said Rahmizoda and the others were also 'severely injured' in the assault.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's sister Qurbonbi Rahmonova, 64, last Tuesday, 10 days after being admitted to an elite hospital. 

Her cause of death was not made public but physicians at a hospital in the country's capital, Dushanbe, told RFE/RL that she had died of coronavirus.

Medical experts from Germany, Russian and Uzbekistan had been invited to treat Rahmonova, the anonymous sources who told the outlet of the alleged attack also said.

They added that a preliminary investigation into the alleged assault has been launched. 

RFE/RL reported that no one from the government, presidency or other authorities would comment publicly on the allegations.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Deputy Health Minister Shodikhon Jamshed dismissed questions on the assault, the outlet reported.

Abdullozoda was not present at the press conference in the capital and no reason was provided for his absence.

The event followed a decision by the United States to provide Tajikistan with coronavirus vaccines. 

On Monday, the Central Asian country received 1.5million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by Washington via Covax, the World Health Organization's international distribution programme.

The reported assault and arrival of the vaccines have highlighted the

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