The desperate bid for freedom by a young Russian flight attendant ended in tragedy in a Dubai hotel room, highlighting the terrifying reach of persistent stalking and violence against women. Anastasia Nikulina, 25, had relocated from St. Petersburg to the United Arab Emirates, seeking a fresh start away from a man who had allegedly tormented her for nearly two years.
Friends revealed that Nikulina felt her ordeal would “go on forever” in Russia, prompting her to seek a new airline job abroad. Her search led her to Dubai for an interview, where she booked a room at the five-star Voco Bonnington hotel. It was there her escape attempt met a horrifying end. Hotel staff discovered her body with 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso, and limbs, lying in a pool of blood.
Dubai police swiftly identified a suspect: 41-year-old Albert Morgan, a man with a criminal past who had allegedly stalked, beaten, and broken into Nikulina’s home in Russia. Reports indicate she had even paid him approximately £10,000 in a failed attempt to stop his harassment. Despite her multiple police reports in Russia, the stalking continued, culminating in him allegedly following her to the UAE.
The investigation outlines a calculated attack. An alleged accomplice, identified as a bailiff from St. Petersburg, reportedly followed Nikulina in the hotel lobby to learn her room number. Morgan then allegedly stole a hotel robe, posed as a guest, and tricked a maid into opening her door. Once inside, police reports state he accused her of working as an escort before attacking her. Shockingly, Russian media reported that he poured antiseptic dye over her as she lay dying before fleeing.
Morgan boarded a flight back to St. Petersburg shortly after the killing. Upon his return, reports suggest he requested to be sent to the war in Ukraine—a tactic under Russian law some alleged criminals use to evade justice. However, this attempt failed. Dubai police shared evidence with Russian authorities, who arrested him. Footage from a Russian court shows a masked Morgan in custody, remanded for two months over the murder charges.
The case of Anastasia Nikulina has sparked outrage and renewed conversations about the international dimension of stalking, the protection of victims across borders, and the challenges of ensuring accountability. Her story is a grim reminder of the extreme dangers faced by victims of persistent stalking, even when they cross continents in search of safety.
