In a decisive legal ruling, the UAE Court of Appeals has unanimously sentenced three Uzbek citizens to death for the November 2024 murder of Chabad emissary Zvi Kogan, while a fourth defendant received life imprisonment followed by deportation. Israeli diplomatic sources have confirmed the sentences, which came after Turkish authorities arrested and extradited the suspects who had fled following what Israel has characterized as an antisemitic terrorist attack.
UAE, "A global model of coexistence and tolerance"
According to the official news agency of the United Arab Emirates, Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi ordered an expedited trial for the four defendants in January 2025, following investigations conducted by the state security apparatus.
The investigation proved that the defendants tracked Kogan, kidnapped and murdered him. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including detailed confessions from the defendants admitting to the murder and kidnapping, forensic evidence, the victim's autopsy report, murder weapons, and various witness testimonies.
Turkish authorities arrested the three killers shortly after the murder and extradited them to the UAE. In recent days, Israeli officials verified reports about the death sentences, with diplomatic sources confirming this information on Sunday.
The news agency noted that death penalty rulings can be appealed to the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court, which will review and rule on any appeals filed. However, the likelihood of a successful appeal in such a case is extremely low. The Attorney General emphasized that the verdict demonstrates the UAE's commitment to combating terrorism according to the highest standards while ensuring guarantees of a fair trial.
He stated that the Emirati justice system deals firmly with any attempt to undermine the country's security and stability. According to him, the United Arab Emirates represents "a global model of coexistence and tolerance," with laws that protect everyone living within its borders, regardless of religious affiliation.
The murder
Upon their arrest, the three men faced charges for serious offenses carrying a maximum death penalty. Until Sunday, apart from reports on popular social media accounts, there had been no official confirmation of their sentences. Authorities had already anticipated that the UAE would seek the death penalty for the three defendants, Olimpi Tohirovich (28), Mahmoud Jon Abd al-Rahim (28), and Aziz-Bek Kamilovich (33). Officials did not specify their suspected motive for the murder, which Israel characterized as an antisemitic terrorist attack.
The murder occurred on November 21 last year but was only confirmed by Israel three days later. Contact with Kogan was lost on Thursday afternoon, the day of the murder, when he missed scheduled meetings and stopped answering phone calls from his family. Kogan's wife contacted the Chabad security officer, who then alerted Israeli security officials. Subsequently, the Mossad took over the investigation.
Authorities discovered Kogan's body in his car in Al Ain, about 90 miles from Dubai, bearing signs of violence. Investigators found evidence of a struggle inside the vehicle. According to reports, a terrorist cell followed him from the time he left Dubai, then kidnapped him near a grocery store where he worked as a kosher supervisor. The Israeli investigation revealed that the perpetrators were Uzbekistan citizens who fled to Turkey, with intelligence assessments suggesting Iranian involvement in directing the operation. ZAKA personnel transported his body to Israel for burial in Jerusalem.
