A 25-year-old Russian flight attendant who traveled to Dubai hoping to rebuild her life from an alleged stalker was found brutally murdered in a luxury hotel in a case that has sparked shock and outrage in Russia and beyond, Metro reported.
Anastasia Nikulina recently moved from St. Petersburg to Dubai and told friends she was desperate for a fresh start after living in fear for nearly two years. According to reports, she believed her suffering would “continue forever” unless she left Russia and actively sought a change of airline and permanent relocation.
Her hopes were dashed when she was found dead in her room at Voco Bonnington Dubai, where she had been staying while attending a job interview. Hotel staff discovered her body a few hours after the attack, lying in a pool of blood. Investigators later confirmed that she had suffered at least 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso and limbs.
A close friend told the media that Nikulina flew to Dubai specifically to explore career options and distance herself from her alleged stalker, 41-year-old Albert Morgan. Russian and international media claim that Morgan followed her to Dubai along with an accomplice, tracked her movements in the hotel and broke into her room.
According to police findings cited by Russian media, an accomplice – allegedly a bailiff from St. Petersburg – followed Nikulina through the hotel lobby to find out her room number. Morgan allegedly stole a hotel robe from the laundry room and convinced a maid to open the door, saying he had forgotten his key. Once inside, he is accused of confronting Nikulina, accused of leading a double life and working as an escort.
In a chilling detail, investigators say the suspect doused her body with antiseptic dye before fleeing the scene. He is said to have boarded a flight back to Russia shortly after the killing.
Friends revealed that Nikulina had previously paid Morgan around £10,000 in a bid to get him to leave her alone, but the harassment allegedly continued. She is said to have endured stalking, physical violence and repeated break-ins for almost two years, despite contacting the police several times.
Dubai police tracked down the suspect using hotel camera footage and alerted Russian authorities. Morgan was arrested after landing in St. Petersburg. Reports also claim that before his arrest, he sought to be sent to fight in the Ukrainian war — a route some accused criminals have attempted under laws introduced during the conflict under President Vladimir Putin.
Despite this, Morgan was brought before a masked and hooded Russian court, where he was remanded in custody for two months pending further investigation into Nikulina’s death.
The case has reignited debate about stalking laws, victim protection and the dangers faced by women trying to escape abusive relationships.
