Man Sent Video Apology After Killing Wife in Kazan

After killing his wife — 34-year-old Kazan resident Yelena Ryabinina — Turkish and German citizen Ecfele Mete recorded a video message in Turkish and posted it in a messenger story. The court read out the translation of this message. The court also read his correspondence with an acquaintance in which they discussed Yelena. Details are in our report.

“God forgive everyone if I«m wrong”

“Friends, I love you very much. Forgive me if anything is wrong. Whatever happens, I forgive you if anything is wrong. I love you very much, take care. God forgive everyone if I«m wrong. Mom, Dad, I love you very much,” — this is what the man posted shortly before he threatened to jump from the balcony.

The video was not shown in court — only the transcript.

“Offers girls to come to Turkey and Germany”

It also emerged that Mete actively communicated with other women during the marriage, although he was very jealous of his wife even toward men with whom she had business correspondence.

“The accused Ecfele Mete, while married to Ryabinina, sends messages in social networks and messengers to many girls and women from different countries: Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia (Samara). He actively tries to get acquainted with them, holds dialogues, asks for photographs. He sends his own photos, offers girls to fly to Turkey and Germany,” the state prosecutor reported.

Whether Yelena knew about the other women is unclear. It is only known that Ecfele tried to win her back in May 2025 and flew to Kazan for that purpose. The court read out the couple«s correspondence shortly before the tragedy.

“This Sunday I will be in Kazan”

On 8 May 2025 (two weeks before the murder), Mete warned Yelena that he would arrive in Kazan on 11 May. A correspondence began between the spouses, who were in the process of divorce. It has been translated into Russian.

— Dear Yelena, this Sunday I will be in Kazan, — wrote Ecfele.

— Dear Yelena, you treat me like a stranger, — he added.

— Dear Yelena, — the defendant wrote again.

— Hello, thank you. On Sunday I will write you the place during the week, we have a schedule. I«m not saying “no” to you, I»m saying “yes” — to meet with your son. I«m not a woman with nothing to do; you give me more work, and I have to work 24 hours. On Saturday I»ll tell you the time and place, — Yelena replied.

— You should also know: I«m done with you. It»s over. Don«t waste your time. Better fly out of here and don»t make me nervous, — she added.

— Dear, I won«t make you nervous. I accept everything you say, that we can be normal, — Mete replied.

To this message Yelena sent some document and this comment: “You«ve been trying to deceive and annoy me for all these 3.5 years, fly away, I don»t want to know or see you.”

— Dear, this time was very hard. You didn«t answer. But if you still call me and come to Germany — what will I do? I»m writing this because I can fly alone with our son. And you tell me you don«t want to come. Why are you attacking me now, dear? — Mete sent.

After part of the correspondence was read, the defendant said he did not want the media present during the reading of the subsequent words. Therefore, journalists were escorted out of the courtroom.

In the criminal case, an attempt was also made to examine Ryabinina«s two phones, but they could not be studied due to blocking. Eventually, they were returned to the victim»s sister.

“I don«t know what to do anymore, she doesn»t want to talk”

At the hearing, another correspondence from the defendant«s phone was also read — with a certain Alina, who, judging by context, knew Yelena. They communicated with Ecfele from April to May 2025 in Russian:

— Yelena had long wanted a divorce and therefore moved to Kazan, — Alina wrote.

— How can I understand that she has long wanted a divorce? Tell me everything you know, Alina, — Ecfele replied.

— She filed in January, — the interlocutor said.

— I treated Yelena very well, respected her as a person. Always supported her, even at night, — Alina said.

— I will be at Kazan airport on 11 May at 01:30 at night, — the defendant wrote.

On the day of arrival, he wrote to Alina: “She doesn«t let me near her. She tries to keep me away. I asked about our son and when I could see him because I missed him so much. I don»t know what to do anymore; she doesn«t want to talk. Only a woman who is in a new relationship acts this way.”

The next day, Alina asked if he had managed to talk to Yelena. He replied that he hadn«t.

“She says I must fly away. And she doesn«t want to see me. She says I should fly out of here and not waste time here in Kazan,” Mete told his acquaintance.

After that, on 24 May 2025, Ecfele Mete tracked down the director of a gymnastics school, Yelena Ryabinina, came to her apartment in the “Volzhskaya Gavan” residential complex, and out of jealousy, right in front of their 3-year-old son, cut her throat.

That day Yelena had planned to celebrate her son«s birthday in a cafe and invited relatives, but she did not come herself. Alarmed relatives went to her home and found her body.

Mete also wounded the child in the head and then climbed onto the balcony, threatening suicide, but eventually surrendered to police. The man faces a life sentence. During his arrest, Ecfele did not admit guilt.