UAE publishes names and photos of suspects in murder of Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have released the names and photos of the three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan national and Chabad rabbi, who was killed in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.

The suspects, all Uzbek nationals, have been identified as Olimpi Tohirovich (28), Makhmudjon Abdurrahim (28), and Azizi Kamilovich (33).

The UAE Ministry of Interior emphasised its determination to quickly investigate the murder, saying that the time for the three men to be arrested was unprecedented. 

According to a statement from the Emirati interior ministry, the suspects are now in custody, and the case will be referred to public prosecution for further investigation.

"The competent security authorities have revealed the identities of the perpetrators, and the necessary measures are being taken to uncover all the details surrounding the incident, including its circumstances and motives," the Ministry's statement read on their X account.

"We are committed to using all human, professional, and technical capabilities to ensure the swift resolution of this case and to safeguard the security and stability of UAE society,” they added.

The murder of Rabbi Kogan, who was affiliated with the New York-based Orthodox Jewish Chabad movement, has sparked strong reactions from Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing as a "heinous antisemitic terrorist act" and vowed that Israel would do everything in its power to bring those responsible to justice.

Kogan, 28, was reported missing on Thursday, and his body was discovered on Sunday in the UAE city of Al Ain, near the Omani border. It remains unclear whether he was killed in Al Ain or elsewhere.

In a statement, Emirati Ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, called the murder "an attack on our homeland, on our values, and on our vision." He reiterated the UAE's commitment to peaceful coexistence, rejecting extremism and fanaticism in any form.

Although Emirati authorities have not publicly established a motive for the crime, Israeli officials have described the murder as an “antisemitic act of terror” funded and directed by Iran.

According to reports, Kogan was last seen at a kosher supermarket in Dubai before his disappearance. While the investigation continues, former Israeli politician Ayoob Kara indicated that there were suspicions of Iranian involvement in the case, though the Iranian embassy in the UAE has categorically rejected any such allegations.