Photo: UAE Ministry of Interior press office
The Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates has detained three Uzbek citizens suspected of kidnapping and murdering Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who resided in Abu Dhabi. This was reported by the law enforcement agency on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
UAE Ministry of Interior officials released photos of the detainees, specifying their names and ages. Notably, patronymics appear to have been used instead of surnames for the Uzbek citizens. In official reports, they are listed as: 28-year-old Olimpi Tohirovich, 28-year-old Makhmudjon Abdurrahim, and 33-year-old Azizi Kamilovich.
The ministry stated that they plan to complete measures to uncover all details of the incident as soon as possible in order to quickly transfer the case to the prosecutor's office. UAE authorities assert that they will continue to suppress any attempts aimed at threatening the country's security and destabilizing society.
Some media outlets reported that the suspects intended to travel to Turkey but were promptly detained. Under UAE law, the Uzbek citizens face the death penalty.
Zvi Kogan, an Israeli and Moldovan citizen, was the head of the orthodox Jewish group «Chabad» in the UAE and also the deputy chief rabbi of the country. The clergyman's family reported his disappearance on Thursday, November 21. Several days later, police discovered Kogan's body and began investigating the murder.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the rabbi's murder, calling it a «heinous terrorist act.» Officials added that they would do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice. The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has joined the process of investigating the circumstances of the incident. Some sources suggested that Iranian intelligence services might be involved in the kidnapping and murder, but this information has not been confirmed yet.
