Russian Man Accused of Stalking and Killing Ex-Girlfriend in Dubai Avoids Trial After Joining Putin’s War in Ukraine

A Russian man accused of murdering his former girlfriend at a luxury hotel in Dubai will reportedly avoid a criminal trial after signing a military contract to fight in Ukraine and receiving clemency from President Vladimir Putin. The case has drawn attention to Russia’s controversial practice of allowing some criminal defendants to enter military service rather than face prosecution.

The suspect, 42-year-old Albert Robertovich Morgan, formerly known as Albert Tsaripov, was accused of killing 25-year-old flight attendant Anastasia Nikulina. She was found dead at the five-star Voco Bonnington hotel in Dubai in December 2025, with 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso and limbs. Morgan was later arrested after returning to St. Petersburg and charged with murder, torture and making death threats, according to reports.

Investigators reportedly said Morgan admitted attacking Nikulina after gaining access to her hotel room. He allegedly disguised himself in a hotel robe and claimed he had been locked out, persuading a member of staff to let him inside. In a statement attributed to him by Russian investigators, Morgan described grabbing a knife and inflicting multiple wounds. Reports differ over the weapon described, with some accounts referring to scissors, so the precise details have not been independently established.

In a video recorded weeks before her death, Nikulina spoke about the fear she said she had been living with. She alleged that Morgan had repeatedly stalked, assaulted and threatened her, and said she had made numerous complaints to police but received no effective protection. She also claimed he had followed her to her workplace and damaged her identity documents. In a message to a friend, she reportedly wrote that she was exhausted and feared she would be killed. She had been preparing to leave for a new airline job in Saudi Arabia, hoping to start a life away from him.

The reported decision to grant Morgan clemency means he will not face the trial that had been expected in Russia. Instead, he has signed a military contract to serve in the war against Ukraine. Under Russian legislation introduced in 2024, certain people facing criminal proceedings can have prosecution suspended or avoid punishment after entering military service, subject to the applicable legal conditions. The arrangement has drawn criticism because it can leave serious allegations unresolved in court.

Morgan’s case leaves Nikulina’s family and loved ones without the public trial that might have examined the allegations and the circumstances leading to her death. His military service does not establish his innocence, and the allegations should not be confused with a court conviction. If he survives the war and the clemency arrangement remains in effect, he may ultimately avoid imprisonment altogether.

Source: The Sun