3 Uzbek citizens sentenced to death in UAE confirmed

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal has sentenced three Uzbek citizens to death for "premeditated murder with terrorist intent" of Israeli and Moldovan citizen and UAE resident monk Zvi Kogan. The verdict was unanimously passed by the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on March 30.

The emirate's Ministry of Interior previously revealed their names: Olimbay Tokhirovich - 29 years old, Mahmudjon Abdurakhim - 29 years old and Azizbek Komilovich - 34 years old.

The fourth defendant, who assisted the defendants, was sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving his sentence, he (his body) will be deported from the UAE. The nationality of the person was not disclosed.

According to the WAM news agency, the Prosecutor General, Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, announced in January 2025 that four defendants had been arrested and evidence had been presented to the court. The evidence presented to the court by the State Security Prosecutor’s Office includes “detailed confessions of the defendants to the crimes of murder and kidnapping, forensic medical examination reports, post-mortem examination reports, details of the means used in the crime, and witness statements.”

Under UAE law, death sentences are automatically appealed and sent to the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court for review and decision.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan confirmed to Kun.uz that three Uzbek citizens have been sentenced to death in the UAE.

“This is not yet a final verdict. "In the UAE, the death penalty verdict is automatically appealed and sent to the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahror Burkhanov told Kun.uz. The Foreign Ministry official also did not disclose Uzbekistan's position on the death sentences handed down to its citizens.

Earlier, Israeli publications reported on this verdict, citing official government sources. An audio recording of a conversation between one of the defendants and their mother was also circulated on social media. In it, the citizen asked that "he and his accomplices be sentenced to death and that, if possible, they should seek legal advice."

Death of an Israeli rabbi in the UAE and the issue of Uzbeks

On November 21, 2024, the body of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a citizen of Israel and Moldova and a resident of the UAE, was found with signs of murder in the emirate of Al Ain, UAE. The UAE Ministry of Interior has detained three Uzbek citizens on suspicion of the crime. According to Israeli media, the Mossad believes the suspects are linked to a group linked to Iran.

On November 25 last year, a group of Uzbek citizens working in Dubai was taken away by police. The police did not comment on the incident, and no one was able to speak with the detainees. The Uzbek Foreign Ministry told Kun.uz in a statement on December 6 that a note had been sent to the UAE Foreign Ministry regarding the incident and a response was awaited.

Later, it became known that some of them were released, some were deported, and a criminal case had been opened against 5 more people.

Also, on November 26, 2024, Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with the Israeli ambassador and stated that the Uzbek government was closely cooperating with the UAE and Israeli authorities in the investigation.

On November 30, 31 Uzbek citizens - all men - who were flying on the Tashkent-Abu Dhabi route were denied entry to the Emirates. They were not allowed to cross the border at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in the UAE said that it was in contact with the airport administration and the relevant authorities of the Emirates and that the situation was under control. Later, it was reported that some of the compatriots who were stranded at Abu Dhabi International Airport had been returned to Uzbekistan.

On December 2 last year, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bahromjon Alayev received the UAE Ambassador to Uzbekistan Said Matar al-Qamzi. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the parties exchanged views on the difficulties experienced by Uzbek citizens in entering the UAE in recent days and agreed to take measures to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

On December 17, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov received the UAE Ambassador Said Matar al-Qamzi. The official release does not contain information about the discussion of the situation with Uzbeks in the emirate. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”