The hopes of a young Russian flight attendant for a new life in Dubai were brutally extinguished when she was found murdered in her luxury hotel room, in a case that has sent shockwaves through Russia and the international community. Anastasia Nikulina, 25, had recently relocated from St Petersburg to the UAE, desperately seeking a fresh start away from an alleged stalker who had tormented her for nearly two years.
A Desperate Escape Turns Tragic
Nikulina had confided in friends that she believed her ordeal with the stalker would never end unless she left Russia. She was actively pursuing a career switch with another airline and aiming to settle permanently in Dubai. Her journey seemed to be for a promising job interview. She was staying at the Voco Bonnington Dubai hotel when her life was tragically cut short.
Hotel staff discovered her body in her room just hours after the attack. The scene was gruesome; she was lying in a pool of blood. Official investigators later confirmed the horrifying extent of the violence: Nikulina had suffered at least 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso, and limbs.
Chilling Details of the Stalking and Attack
Reports from Russian and international media paint a terrifying picture of premeditated stalking that crossed borders. The alleged stalker, identified as 41-year-old Albert Morgan, is accused of following Nikulina to Dubai along with an accomplice. According to police findings cited by media, the accomplice, said to be a bailiff from St Petersburg, tracked Nikulina through the hotel lobby to pinpoint her room number.
In a calculated move, Morgan allegedly stole a hotel robe from the laundry area. Using this disguise, he reportedly convinced a hotel maid to open Nikulina's door by claiming he had forgotten his key. Once inside, he confronted the young woman, accusing her of leading a double life. The attack that followed was vicious. In a particularly chilling act, investigators say the suspect poured antiseptic dye over her body before fleeing the scene. He then boarded a flight back to Russia shortly after the killing.
Friends revealed that Nikulina's nightmare had been long-standing. She had reportedly paid Morgan around £10,000 in a futile attempt to buy her peace. Despite her pleas and multiple reports to the police in Russia over two years, she endured relentless stalking, physical violence, and break-ins.
International Manhunt and Legal Proceedings
Dubai Police swiftly traced the suspect using comprehensive hotel CCTV footage and alerted Russian authorities. Morgan was arrested upon his arrival at the airport in St Petersburg. Before his detention, reports emerged that he had sought to be sent to fight in the Ukraine war—a potential escape route some accused criminals have attempted under laws enacted during the conflict.
Nonetheless, he was presented before a Russian court, where he appeared wearing a mask and a cap. The court remanded him in custody for two months as investigations into Nikulina's murder continue.
This horrific incident has reignited urgent debates far beyond the courtroom. It has spotlighted critical issues surrounding the inadequacy of anti-stalking laws, the failure of systems to protect victims, and the extreme dangers women face when trying to escape abusive and terrifying situations, even when they cross international borders in search of safety.
