UAE confirms Uzbek citizens' arrest in Rabbi's death, investigation ongoing

The mysterious death of Rabbi Svi Kogan, a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, disappeared on November 21 in Dubai, UAE, and his body was discovered on November 24.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring those responsible to justice, describing the incident as a potential terrorist attack.

According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, the suspects—identified as Olimboy Tohirovich (28), Mahmudjon Abdulrahim (28), and Azizbek Komilovich (33)—were detained on November 24. UAE officials report that Kogan, a Moldovan citizen at the time of his entry into the UAE, served as an assistant to the chief rabbi of the local Jewish community and managed the Rimon supermarket in Dubai.

The suspects reportedly attempted to flee to Turkey after the incident. Speculation in the media and statements from Israeli officials suggest potential links to Iran, though these claims remain unverified.

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially stated it had no information confirming the suspects' nationality. However, UAE police have since confirmed the suspects' identities.

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement labeled the suspects "terrorists," aligning with Israel's classification of the incident as terrorism. Investigations by UAE authorities are ongoing, and no further details have been released about the motives or circumstances surrounding the murder.