The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan has refuted reports that the suspect in a murder attempt on a Russian woman in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, is a Tajik citizen.
The suspect, who was arrested in Tajikistan and handed over to Russian law enforcement, was earlier identified by some media outlets as having dual citizenship – Tajik and Russian.
According to the Interior Ministry, the detained individual’s name is Rafis Rustemovich Sultanov, born in 1995, a citizen of the Russian Federation and a resident of Kazan. The Interior Ministry clarified that he is not a citizen of Tajikistan.
The suspect, who attempted to flee to Tajikistan after the attack on Shevyrova I.V., was arrested in Tajikistan based on a request from Russian authorities and subsequently transferred to Russia.
The Interior Ministry also confirmed that Sultanov admitted to the crime and provided a confession while still in Tajikistan.
A few days ago, Irina Volk, the official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, reported on Telegram that the suspect had been detained through cooperation between Tajik and Russian law enforcement agencies.
The crime occurred on October 14, when an unknown man attacked a 34-year-old woman, inflicting multiple stab wounds. The victim was hospitalized.
Tatarstan police have since apprehended the alleged organizers of the attack, including two relatives of the victim and the head of security at a commercial company. Two accomplices who assisted in planning the attack were also arrested.
The name of the primary perpetrator has not been disclosed, though it was reported that he is a 30-year-old national from a neighboring country, who initially tried to flee to Tajikistan but was eventually located and apprehended.
